s 

545 



U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 

OFFICE OF EXPEMMINT STATIONS— BTHIBTIN 241. 
A. C. TRUE, Director. 



LEGISLATION 



RELATING TO 



FARMERS' INSTITUTES IN THE 
UNITED STATES. 



BY 



JOHN HA^IILTON, 

farmers' institute specialist. 



[Revised April 1, 1911.] 




vO 



im 



WASHINGTON: 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OEITCE, 

1911. 




Qass. 
Book. 



AAA. 



u 



1»75 

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 

OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS— BULLETIN 241. / IpM 

A. C. TRUE, Direetop. 



LEGISLATION 

RELATING TO 

FARMERS' INSTITUTES IN THE 

UNITED STATES. . i- 

BT 

JOHN HAMILTON, 

farmers' institute specialist. 



[Revised April 1, 1911.] 




WASHINGTON": 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFEIOE, 

1911. 



(Vh^ 



^^ 



4 






OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 

A. C. True, Ph. D., Director. 

E. W. Allen, Pli. D., Assistant Director and Editor of Experiment Station Record. 
John Hamilton, Farmers' Institute Specialist. 
J. M. Stedman, Assistant Farmers' Institute Specialist. 
[Bull. 241] 

(2) 



LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL 



U. S. Department of Agriculture, 

Office of Experiment Stations, 

Washington, D. C, May 22, 1911. 
Sir : I have the honor to transmit herewith and to recommend for 
publication as a bulletin of this office a compilation of laws relating 
to farmers' institutes in the United States, prepared by John Hamil- 
ton, farmers' institute specialist of this office, revised to April 1, 1911. 
Respectfully, 

A. C. True, 

Director. 
Hon. James Wilson, 

Secretary of Agj-iculture. 

[Bull. 241] 

(3) 



CONTENTS. 



Page. 

Introduction 7 

State legislation 7 

Alabama 7 

Alaska 8 

Arizona. 8 

Arkansas 9 

California 9 

Colorado 9 

Connecticut 10 

Delaware 10 

Florida 11 

Georgia. 11 

Hawaii 12 

Idaho 12 

Illinois 12 

Indiana 16 

Iowa 17 

Kansas 18 

Kentucky 20 

Louisiana 21 

Maine 22 

Maryland 23 

Massacliusetts 24 

Michigan 24 

Minnesota 26 

Mississippi 27 

Missouri 27 

Montana 28 

Nebraska 28 

Nevada 28 

New Hampshire 29 

New Jersey 29 

New Mexico 29 

New York 29 

North Carolina 31 

North Dakota 31 

Ohio 32 

Oklahoma 33 

Oregon 35 

Pennsylvania 36 

Porto ilico 36 

Rhode Island 36 

[Bull. 241] 

(5) 



6 

State legislation — Continued. Page. 

South Carolina 36 

South Dakota 37 

Tennessee 38 

Texas 38 

Utah 38 

Vermont 39 

Virginia 42 

Washington 44 

West Virginia 44 

Wisconsin >. 46 

Wyoming 46 

Federal legislation 47 

[Bull. 241] 



LEGISLATION RELATING TO FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 



INTEODTJCTIOIf. 

In order that legislation by the several States relating to the organ- 
ization of farmers' institutes might be generally accessible to institute 
directors and workers, copies of the lavv^s under which the institutes 
were organized were secured by this office in 1903 and were arranged 
and published as Bulletin No. 135 of the Office of Experiment 
Stations. 

A revision of this bulletin was made August 1, 1905, embodying 
such modifications of the laws as had occurred since August 1, 1903. 
Since the date of this revision the institute laws in most of the States 
have been so modified by subsequent enactment as to make a second 
revision necessary. Copies of the old laws were accordingly sent to 
the several State directors of farmers' institutes witli the request that 
where changes have occurred copies of the new laws be forwarded to 
this office to be inserted in the revised bulletin. The present revision 
includes legislation in force April 1, 1911. 

An examination of the institute laws of the several States reveals 
the fact that while they differ in their form and requirements as well 
as in the authority which they confer and the amount of money 
which they appropriate, yet they are one in their purpose to aid 
farming people by affording them opportunity to secure the latest 
and most reliable information relating to agriculture and to receive 
definite instructions through a living teacher as to the application of 
these truths in their every-clay practice. 

STATE LEGISLATION. 

ALABAMA. 

The appropriation for farmers' institutes in Alabama is made to 
the department of agTiculture and industries of the State, to be ex- 
pended under the direction of the commissioner, and is as follows: 

Article 6. — Farmers' iNbTiTUTEs and Agrictiltural Faies. 

(416.) Farmers' Institutes. — The commissioner is authorized and directed 
to adopt annually such measures as may be necessary to successfully conduct, in 
[Bull. 241] 

(T) 



8 . . 

different sections of the State, farmers' institutes, consisting of lectures on 
subjects related to agriculture by persons of scientific attainments, and by 
practical and successful farmers, with discussions relating thereto, and of such 
exhibitions as may prove instructive and of practical value to the farmers of 
the vicinity where such institutes are held, a report of which, with a detailed 
statement of the money expended in that connection, must be embodied In his 
annual report. 

(417.) Expenses of Institutes. — The commissioner is authorized to pay the 
necessary expenses incurred in conducting such farmers' institutes, including 
the expense of employing lecturers when necessary, and for distributing the 
reports thereof ; and for this purpose there is annually appropriated, out of the 
funds of the department of agriculture and industries, three thousand dollars, 
or so much thereof as may be necessary to be paid for the monthly estimate and 
allowance for expenses of the department. 

Approved February 28, 1889. 

In addition to the State appropriation, the Alabama Polj^technic 
Institute apj^ropriates annually the sum of $600 for institute pur- 
poses, besides giving the service of members of the college and 
experiment station staff to the equivalent of about $600 additional. 

The legislature of 1911 made a continuous aj^jDropriation of $27,000 
annually to the Alabama Polytechnic Institute for conducting exten- 
sion work. An additional sum of $25,000 annually was appropriated 
by the legislature of 1911 to a board consisting of the commissioner 
of agriculture, the director of the Agricultural Experiment Station, 
the dean of the school of agriculture at the Agricultural College, and 
two members to be elected by the three named, for carrying on farm 
demonstration work, to be expended in cooperation with field demon- 
strations conducted in the State by the United States Department 
of Agriculture. 

ALASKA. 

Farmers' institutes have not yet been established in Alaska. 

ABIZONA. 

The Legislative Assembly of Arizona in 1909 provided for farmers' 
institutes b}- a paragrajDh in the appropriation to the Universitj'^ of 
Arizona as follows: 

AN ACT Providing for the niaintonance and continuation of agricultural and liorticul- 
tural experiments and deraonstralions l)y the TTniversity of Arizona Agricultural 
Experiment Station at the date orchards near Tompe and Yuma, Arizona ; for dry- 
farming investigations in the northeastern and southeastern parts, respectively, of 
Arizona ; for printing experiment station publications ; and for continuation of farm- 
ers' institute lectures and short courses of instruction. * * * 

Section 1. That the sum of thirteen thousand one hundred dollars is hereny 
.appropriated to pay for the following required expenditures, for the use and 
benefit of the University of Arizona Agricultural Experiment Station. * * » 

Sec. 4. For the continuation and maintenance of farmers' institutes and 
short courses of instruction througliout the Territory, two thousand fi^e hundred 
dollars. 

Approved March, 1900. 
[Bull. 241] 



9 

ARKANSAS. 

Arkansas has no farmers' institute legislation except that an ap- 
propriation of $8,000 for the biennial period 1910-11 was made by 
the legislature to the agricultural experiment station of the Univer- 
sity of Arkansas for the purpose of holding farmers' institutes 
throughout the State. 

CALIFORNIA. 

AN ACT Authorizing ttie regents of tlie State university to liold farmers' institutes, mak- 
ing an appropriation therefor, and prescribing the duties of the controller and treasurer 
in relation thereto. 

The people of the State of California, represented in senate and assemtly, do 
enact as folloics: 

Section 1. The regeuts of the University of California are hereby authorized 
to hold institutes for the instruction of citizens of this State in the various 
branches of agriculture. Such institutes shall be held at such times and at such 
places as said regents may direct. The said regents shall make such rules and 
regulations as they may deem proper for organizing and conducting such insti- 
tutes, and may employ an agent or agents to perform such work in connection 
therewith as they deem best. The course of instruction at such institutes shall 
be so arranged as to present to those in attendance the results of the most 
recent investigations in theoretical and practical agriculture. 

******* 

Sec. 4. This act shall be in effect from and after its passage. 
Approved March 18, 1905. 

The legislature for the biennium of 1910-11 has appropriated 
$20,000 to the University of California for institute work. 

COLORADO. 

[Extract from senate bill No. 172, appropriating money for the benefit of the Colorado 

College and Station.] 

Section 5. It shall be the duty of the State board of agriculture, through its 
officers and those of the State agricultural college, to organize and conduct a 
farmers' institute annually in each agricultural county of the State, to instruct 
stockmen and farmers and those interested in agriculture and horticulture and 
kindred industries. * * * 

Approved , 1905. 

[Extract from senate bill No. 82, making an appropriation for the State agricultural 
college and experiment station, to be expended under the direction of the State board 
of agriculture, for payments on land and water rights ; the erection of buildings and 
equipment ; making experimental investigations for farmers' institutes, and other exten- 
sion work.] 

Section 5. For the purpose of holding farmers' institutes and extending the 
work of instruction in agriculture to the farmers, horticulturists, and stock 
growers of the State, to employ instructors, teachers, and lecturers for this work, 
there is hereby authorized the expenditure of ten thousand dollars from the 
amount herein appropriated. 

Approved , 1909. 

101517°— Bull. 241—11 2 



10 

CONNECTICUT. 

Connecticut has no special law regiilating the holding of farmers' 
institutes. The State board of agriculture, the Connecticut Dairy- 
men's Association, and the pomological society are all carrying on 
institute work in the State. These different organizations all draw 
money from the State for the benefit of agriculture in general; the 
dairymen's association for the dairying interests, the pomological 
society for the interests of fruit growing. The methods used by 
these different organizations for carrying out tiieir work and dissemi- 
nating useful information are entirely in their own discretion. Each 
however, has an institute committee appointed to have charge of 
institute work. 

^^Iiere the citizens in any locality desire an institute, any one of 
these associations will furnish speakers free of expense. These dif- 
ferent organizations have all held institutes during the past several 
years. Annual meetings are held in the winter by each of these 
organizations.. 

The Connecticut State Board of Agriculture requires " that localities 
applying for institutes shall furnish a suitable hall, local transporta- 
tion for speakers and visitors, music if desired, and entertainment by 
collation or otherwise, unless there are convenient hotel accommoda- 
tions." " The board pays for printing, traveling expenses, and serv- 
ices of the speakers." The authority under which the board acts in 
institute matters is through an act creating the State board of agricul- 
ture, which authorizes the secretary "to disseminate agricultural 
information by lectures or otherwise." 

DELAWARE. 

AN ACT Providing for farmers' institutes. 

Be it cnactvd Inj the senate and house of representatives of the 8tate of Dela- 
ware in general assembly met: 

Section 1. That hereafter a farmers' institute shall be held annually in each 
county of this State. The meetings for organizing these institutes, resiiectively, 
shall be called as hereafter provided; afterwards they shall be held at such 
times and itlaces as the members thereof may. either in general meeting or by 
their exe<:'utiv(> conimlttee. determine. The objects of these institutes shall be 
the discussion, onilly or by written essays or papers, of agricultural and kin- 
dred matters, and for the dissemination of agriculturitl knowledge among the 
farn)ers of this State. 

Sec. 2. The first meeting for the purpose of organizing shall be held in the 
<(»unty courthouse of each county, respectively, on the third Saturday of May, 
\. D. eighteen hundred and eighty-nine, at two o'clock afternoon; and each of 
the clerks of the jieace of the several counties shall give notice in two newspa- 
I'crs in his county by two insertions at least one week ai)art, and the last one 
not more than one week prior thereto, of such m«M>(ings for organization. lie 
sliMll also attend and cnll the meeting to order .-uid i»resi<le until a president be 
chosen. The exjiense of notices so [Miblisbed shall be jtaid by the respective 
counties on bills approved by the clerk of the peace ordering them. 
[Bull.L'tl] 



11 

The notice shall be in this form : 

Notice. — The farmers of County are hereby invited to meet in the 

county courthouse on Saturday, the 18th day of May, 1889, at 2 o'clock after- 
noon, for the purpose of organizing a farmers' institute in pursuance of an act 
of the general assembly passed for that purpose. 

May — , 1889. 



Clcrh of the Peace. 

Sec. 3. The officers of the farmers' institutes herein provided for shall be a 
president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, and executive committee of not 
less than five nor more than nine members, and such other and additional offi- 
cers as may be provided for by the by-laws or resolution of the institutes, respec- 
tively. None of the officers shall receive any compensation or emolument what- 
ever. They shall hold their offices for one year and until their successors be 
chosen. 

(This section was amended at the 1903 session of the legislature by adding 
thereto the following proviso) : 

" Provided, That the State board of agriculture may appoint a director of 
farmers' institutes for the State, to cooperate with the farmers' institutes of 
the several counties. The compensation of the said director shall be fixed by the 
State board of agriculture, which said compensation shall not exceed the sum 
of one hundred dollars per annum, and which said compensation shall be paid 
from the funds appropriated by the State to the said State board of agriculture." 

Sec. 4. For the purpose of defraying the incidental expenses of holding the 
institutes herein provided for the sum of six hundred dollars annually is hereby 
appropriated, to wit, two hundred dollars to the institute of each county, respec- 
tively, to be paid to the respective treasurers thereof on the certificate of the 
president and secretary that he is duly authorized to receive the same. 

Sec. 5. Each institute shall be the judge of the qualifications and regulate the 
admission of its own members, and may also make and alter rules for the regu- 
lation of its own proceedings. The failure to hold an institute as herein contem- 
plated in any one year shall forfeit its appropriation for that j^ear. 

Passed at Dover, March 29, 1889. 

Under an act of the legislature the law which created the State 
board of agriculture was amended by adding to its powers and duties 
the following : " To devise and execute measures necessary for the 
agricultural development of the State." Under this authority, in 
addition to the $600 specifically appropriated for institutes, an addi- 
tional amount may be granted by the State board for this purpose. 

FLORIDA. 

The Legislature of Florida at its session of 1910 appropriated the 
sum of $15,000 for the years 1910 and 1911 for carrying on farmers' 
institutes. The manner of conducting the work is determined by the 
board of control. The director of the experiment station has been 
designated as the executive officer in charge of institute work. 

GEORGIA. 

No special appropriation for farmers' institutes as such has been 
made by the Legislature of Georgia. The act of 1910, under which 

[Bull. 241] - 



12 

institutes are conducted, provides $60,000 for maintenance of the 
State college cf agriculture, of which $10,000 shall be used for exten- 
sion teaching. 

HAWAII. 
There are no laws in this TeiTitory relating to farmers' institutes. 

IDAHO. 

Farmers' institutes in Idaho are under the direction of the board of 
regents of the universit}^ and are supported out of an appropriation 
made for agricultural college extension. The director of the agri- 
cultural experiment station has been placed in charge of the work as 
executive officer of the board. 

ILLINOIS. 

AN ACT Creating the niinois Farmers' Institute. 

[Approved June 24, 1895. Amended and approved May 11, 1901. Amended and ap- 
proved May 15, 1903. Amended and approved June 10, 1909.] 

Section 1. Be it enacted hy the people of the State of Illinois, represented 
in the general asseniNy: That to assist aud encourage useful education among 
the farmers, and for developing the agricultural resources of the State, that an 
organization under the name and style of " Illinois Farmers' Institute " is here- 
by created and declared a public corporation of the State. 

Sec. 2. It shall consist of three delegates from each county of the State, 
elected annuallj^ at the farmers' institutes for said coimty by the members 
thereof. 

Sec. 3. The affairs of the Illinois Farmers' Institute shall be managed by a 
board of directors, consisting of: 

1. State superintendent of public instruction. 

2. Professor of agriculture of the State of Illinois. 

3. President of the State board of agriculture. 

4. President of the State horticultural society. 

5. President of the State dairymen's association, and one member from each 
congressional district of the State, to be selected by the delegates from the 
district present at the annual meeting of this organization: Provided, That the 
members first selected from the congi-essional districts of eA-en numbers shall 
serve for one year, and the members first selected from the congressional 
district of odd numbers shall serve for two years, aud that the members selected 
thereafter to fill the exiiired terms of office shall serve for the i>eriod of two 
years. 

Sec. 4. (As amended and approved June 10. IIKH).) The board of directors 
of the Illinois F.irmers' Institute shall have sole care and disposjil of all sums 
that nijiy be a))propriated l)y the State to sustain the organization, and shall 
expend the same in such manner as in their judgment will best promote tlie 
interests in useful education among the farmers aud develop the agricultural 
resources of the State. The Illinois Farmers' Institute shall make annual 
report to the governor of its transactions, which report shall include papers 
IH'rIaining to its work and addresses made at the annual meeting of the organi- 
zalioii, and a classified statenienl of all money received and of all expcudilures 
made, and fifty thousand i-opies of such report shall be inMnti'd and bound in 
cloth on or before September first of each fiscal year, three-fourths for the use of 
[Bull. 241] 



13 

the Illinois Farmers' Institute, and the remainder to the secretary of state for 
distribution. It shall make no appropriation without funds in hand to meet 
the same, and the State of Illinois shall in no event be held liable or responsible 
for debt, obligation, or contract made by the Illinois Farmers' Institute or its 
board of directors. 

Sec. 5. There shall be held annually, under the direction of the board of 
directors, between October first and March first, following of each year, a pub- 
lic meeting of the delegates from county farmers' institutes and of farmers of 
this State at such time and place as may be determined by the board of 
directors, of not less than three days' duration, which meeting shall be held 
for the purpose of developing the greater interest in the cultivation of crops, 
in the care and breeding of domestic animals, in dairy husbandry, in horti- 
culture, in farm drainage, in improved highways and general farm management 
through and by means of liberal discussions of these and kindred subjects, and 
any citizen may take part in these meetings, but only duly elected and accred- 
ited delegates from county farmers' institutes shall be permitted to vote in 
the election of the board of directors. 

Sec. 6. (As amended and approved ]May fifteenth, nineteen hundred and three.) 
The members of each new board of directors shall enter upon their duties the 
second Tuesday after their election, and hold their offices for one or two years, 
as provided in section three, or until their successors are elected and enter 
upon their duties. The board of directors shall have power to fill vacancies 
in the board. It shall organize by the election of a president, vice president, 
treasurer, and secretary, who shall hold their offices for one year, their tei'm 
of office to begin July first following their election. It shall employ such super- 
intendents, speakers, and clerks as may be deemed proper for organizing and 
conducting the work of the Illinois Farmers' Institute, and provide for their 
compensation by the rules of the board of directors. The secretary and treas- 
urer may be other than members of the board of directors. The salary of the 
secretary shall be two thousand dollars a year, payable in monthly installments. 

The auditor of public accounts is hereby authorized to draw his warrants on 
the State treasurer monthly for the salary of the secretary of the Illinois 
Farmers' Institute, as herein provided, payable out of any fund in his hands not 
otherwise appropriated. 

Sec. 7. Rooms in the capitol building shall be assigned to the officers of this 
organization by the proper authority, which shall then be under the control of 
the board of directors. 

Sec. S. The board of directors may make and enforce such rules and by-laws, 
not in conflict with the laws of this State, as will render its work most useful 
and efl[icient. 

Sec 9. For the purpose mentioned in the preceding sections, said board of 
directors may use such sums as it may deem proper and necessary, not exceed- 
ing the amount appropriated therefor by the general assembly from the gen- 
eral fund, for that purpose : Provided further. That the — 

1. State superintendent of public instruction. 

2. Professor of agriculture of the University of Illinois. 

3. President of the State board of agriculture. 

4. President of the State horticultural society. 

5. President of the State dairymen's association. 

And the present congressional representatives of the Illinois Farmers' Insti- 
tute Association shall constitute the first board of directors of this organization, 
who shall have charge of the affairs of the same until their successors have 
been duly elected and enter upon their duties as provided in this act. 
[Bull, 241] 



14 

A BILL For an act making an appropriation for the Illinois Farmers' Institute and 
countj- farmers" institutes. (Approved June 11, 1909 j 

Section 1. Be it eiuictcd by the people of the State of lUinois, represented in 
the general assetnhhj: That there be and hereby is appropriated to the Illinois 
J'iirmers' Institute the following sums, to wit: For clerk hire, janitor service, 
postage, expressage, office, library, furniture, incidental office expenses, etc., 
two thousand five hundred dollars per annum, for the fiscal years beginning 
July first, nineteen hundred and nine and nineteen hundred and ten. The secre- 
tary of state shall provide all needful books, papers, stationery, and printing 
required on requisition by the secretary of the Illinois Farmers* Institute. 

Sec. 2. For the salary of a superintendent, one thousand five hundred dollars 
per annum ; for assistants to the superintendent, one thousand dollars per nn- 
num ; for the fiscal years beginning July first, nineteen hundred and nine and 
nineteen hundred and ten. 

Sec. 3. For the per diem and necessary expenses of expert judges, instruc- 
tors, and speakers furnished by the board of directors for county institutes, 
farmers' study clubs, farmer boys' organization, home makers' clubs, etc., and 
for use of tlie board in furnishing to the daily and weekly newspapers of the 
State reports of the most ai^proved and successful farm i^ractice and experiment 
station results ; the latest teachings of agricultural science and the educational 
ideas that are receiving the attention of scientists and foremost farmers, the 
sum of three thousand dollars per annum, for the fiscal years beginning July 
first, nineteen hundred and nine and nineteen hundred and ten. 

Sec. 4. For the actual expenses of the members of the board of directors and 
officers of the Illinois Farmers' Institute, in the performance of their duties as 
such members and officers; for the expense of the district confei'ences. the 
expenses of the State institute meeting, and for the incidental expenses in pro- 
moting the development of the farmers' institute work throughout the State, 
five thousand dollars i)er annum ; for the fiscal years beginning July first, nine- 
teen hundred and nine and nineteen hundred and ten. 

Sec. 5. For the purpose of holding one or more farmers' institute meetings 
in each county in the State, the sum of seventy -five dollars per annum for the 
fiscal years beginning July first, nineteen hundred and nine and nineteen 
hundred and ten, said sum to be jiaid to the treasurer of each county farmers' 
institute when such institute shall file with the secretary of the Illinois Farm- 
ers' Institute a sworn statement, which sh;ill show that said county farmers' 
institute has held one or more duly advertise<l public sessions annually, in 
accordance with such rules as may be prescribed by the board of directors of 
the Illinois Farmers' Institute: Provided, That if necessary expenses of a 
county fiirniers' institute shall not equal the sum of seventy-five dollai*s, as 
aforesaid, then warrant shall only be drawn for the sum expended. 

Sec. 6. That on the order of the president, approved by the director of the 
congressional district, the secretary of the Illinois Farmers' Institute shall draw 
his warrant on the treasurer t)f the Illinois Farmers" Institute in favor of the 
treasurer of the county farmers' institute for the sum herein appropriatinl. 
seventy-five dolhirs, or so nuicli thereof as may be rtK-eived for its use and beni^ 
fit, as aforesaid, and it shall be tlie <luty of the treasurer of the Illinois Farm- 
ers' Institute to pay over to the treasurer of the said county farmers' institute 
the said sum, and make amiual report to the governor, as provided by law. 

Sec. 7. No officer nor officers of a county farmers' institute shall be entitled, 
as sucli officer or officers, to receive any moueyetl couipensjition for any servjce 
renderwl the same, 
lltull. Ii41] 



15 

Sec. 8. The State auflitor ia hereby authorized and instructed to draw his 
warrant for the sum herewith specified and deliver the same to the treasurer 
of the Illinois Farmers' Institute upon his presenting voucher for same, signed 
by the president and secretary of said Illinois Farmers' Institute, and the State 
treasurer shall pay the same out of any money in the State treasury not other- 
wise appropriated. 

Rules Ppescriekd by the Boakd of Directors for the Management of 
County Farmers' Institutes. 

Rule 1. The director of each district consisting of more than one county shall, 
at the request of the executive committee or the superintendent of institutes, 
call a conference of delegates from the several counties of his district at some 
convenient point, consisting of the following: 

(«) One officer (or person selected by the officers) of each county farmers' 
institute. 

(&) One officer (or person selected by the officers) of the department of house- 
hold science of each county farmers' institute. (In counties in which the de- 
partment is not organized, the officers of the county farmers' institute may 
appoint a delegate to represent the women of the county with the express under- 
standing that said delegate shall, prior to the time for holding the county 
farmers' institute, make faithful effort to organize such department.) 

(c) The county superintendent of schools for each county in the district. 

The purpose of these conferences is to arrange the times and places for 
holding the next county institutes and to cooperate in securing speakers. 

All necessary expenses of the three said delegates in attending the district 
conference shall be paid by the Illinois Farmers' Institute upon itemized bills 
approved by the director of the district. 

Note 1. Rule 1 does not prohibit the attendance at the conference of more 
than three delegates. Indeed the number who may attend is unlimited, but the 
expenses of three only can be allowed from the State institute funds. 

Note 2. Delegates from independent institutes are invited to come to the con- 
ference at their own expense. TTieir requests for speakers, however, will receive 
the same attention by the superintendent of institutes as those coming from the 
rgular county organizations. The purpose of the conferences is to help every- 
body who will assist in the dissemination of agricultural information. 

Rule 2. The director's approval shall be required in fixing the dates of the 
institutes in his district. 

Rule 3. The secretary of each county institute shall submit the completed 
institute program to the district director for his approval before having it 
l^rinted and distributed, and this shall be done at least 20 days prior to the 
time for holding the institute. 

Rule 4. As soon as practicable after printing the programs the secretary of 
each institute shall send two or more copies to each of the following : The dis- 
trict director; Secretary H. A. McKeene, Springfield, 111.; each of the speakers 
whose names appear upon the program. 

Rule 5. The date or place for holding an institute shall not be changed from 
that determined upon at the district conference without the approval of the 
district director and the superintendent of institutes. 

Rule 6. No part of the State fund shall be expended for music, recitations, 
amusements of any kind, or for premiums. 
[Bull. 241] 



16 

INDIANA. 

House Bill No. 274. 

A BILL For an act for the improvement and advancement of agriculture, domestic science, 
and rural life, by tlie dissemination of information relative to agriculture, domestic 
science, and rural life among the people of the State. 

Section 1. Be it enacted iy the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, 
That in order to promote tlie improvement and advancement of agriculture, 
domestic science, and rural life among the people of the several counties of the 
St»te of Indiana, and aid in the diffusion among the people of the several 
counties of the State of Indiana, useful and practical information on subjects 
connected with agriculture, domestic science and rural betterment, the follow- 
ing sums of money are hereby appropriated to Purdue University, out of any 
moneys in the general fund of the State treasury not otherwise appropriated, 
ten thousand dollars for the fiscal year ending September thirtieth, nineteen 
hundred and eleven, and thirty thousand dollars annually thereafter, said sums 
to be paid quarterly to the treasurer of Purdue University. 

Sec. 2. The sum of ten thousand dollars available during the current year 
and the thirty thousand dollars annually appropriated thereafter in section one 
of this act shall be expended by the school of agriculture and the agricultural 
experiment station of said university in securing the necessary office force, 
extension workers, lecturers, and equipment, and in defraying any other 
expenses in the study of rural conditions and in promoting and aiding in the 
organization and holding in various parts of the State farmers' short courses, 
farmers' institutes, farmers' conferences, contests, lectures and demonstration 
work of various types, and any other forms of agricultural extension, instruc- 
tion, and demonstration agreed upon by the authorities of Purdue University as 
being necessary to accomplish the purpose of this act. 

Sec. 3. The work proposed by this act shall be carried out by the said Purdue 
University through the extension department of the school of agriculture and 
agricultural experiment station under such rules, regulations, and methods as 
may be prescribed, and along lines to be determined by the following officers : 
The board of trustees, the president of the university, the dean of the school of 
agriculture, the director of the agricultural experiment station, the superintend- 
ent of agricultural extension of Purdue University, and the advisory committee, 
as provised for in section three of chapter one hundred and sixty-seven, laws of 
nineteen hundred and nine. 

Sec. 4. For the purpose of defraying the local expenses of meetings held and 
other work done under the provisions of section two and in accordance with the 
rules and regulations provided for in this act, such as hall rents, i)rinting. adver- 
tising, prizes for contests, and other local expenses, the county farmers' insti- 
tute chairman is hereby authorized to file with the county auditor an itemized 
list of expenses of such meeting or meetings and other work done, and the 
county auditor shall, after such claims have been approved by the county com- 
missioners, draw a warrant or warrants on the county treasurer, who shall pay 
same: Provided, That in no instance shall the aggregate of such items exceed 
an amount ecpial to twenty-five cents for each square mile of territory in said 
county. 

Sec. 5. That there may be funds in the county treasury available for the pay- 
ment of such warrants as are herein provided for. the county council shall 
appropriate annually an amonnt equal to twenty-five cents for each square mile 
of territory in said county. 
[Bull. 241] 



17 

Sec. 6. An act entitled "An act to encourage tlie study of agriculture, horti- 
culture, economic entomology, and agricultural chemistry, providing for the 
county institutes, prescribing the duties of the trustees and faculty of Purdue 
University in connection therewith, and making an appropriation therefor," 
approved March ninth, eighteen hundred and eighty-nine ; an act to amend sec- 
tion three of "An act to encourage the study of agriculture, horticulture, eco- 
nomic entomology, and agricultural chemistry, providing for county institutes, 
prescribing the duties of trustees and faculty of Purdue University in con- 
nection therewith and making appropriations therefor, approved March ninth, 
eighteen hundred and eighty-nine, approved March fourth, nineteen hundred 
and one ; and an act entitled "An act for the encouragement of farmers' insti- 
tutes, and authorizing the county auditor to draw warrants under certain condi- 
tions," approved March eighth, nineteen hundred and seven, are hereby repealed. 

Sec. 7. Whereas an emergency exists for the immediate taking effect of this 
act, the same shall be in effect from and after its passage. 

Approved Februrry 27, 1911. 

IOWA. 

AN ACT To repeal the law as it appears in section sixteen hundred and seventy-five 
(1675) of tlie supplement to the code, nineteen hundred and seven, relative to farmers' 
institutes and enact a substitute therefor. 

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Iowa: 

Section 1. That the law as it appears in section sixteen hundred and seventy- 
five of the supplement to the code, nineteen hundred and seven, be, and the same 
is hereby, repealed and the following enacted in lieu thereof : 

When forty or more farmers of a county organize a farmers' institute, with 
a president, secretary, treasurer, and an executive committee of not less than 
three outside of such officers, and hold an institute, remaining in session not 
less than two days in each year, which institute may be adjourned from time to 
time and from place to place in said county, the secretary of the State board 
of agriculture, upon, the filing with him a report of such institute and an item- 
ized statement under oath showing that the same has been organized and held 
and for what purposes the money expended has been used, shall certify the 
same to the auditor of State, which State auditor shall remit to the county 
treasurer of ench county his warrant for the amount so expended, not to exceed 
seventy-five dollars, and there is hereby appropriated, out of the moneys in the 
State treasury not otherwise appropriated, a sum not to exceed seventy-five 
dollars annually for such institute work in each county. No officer of any such 
farmers' institute shall receive, directly or indirectly, any compensation from 
said fund for said services as such officer. The report provided for in this 
section shall be filed with the secretary of the State board of agriculture on 
or before the first day of June of each year. When any institute fails to report 
on or before the first day of June, that institute shall not receive State aid for 
that year. 

All counties not holding a regular farmers' institute, and where a short 
course is held, the money appropriated for such farmers' institute as provided 
in section sixteen hundred and seventy-five of the supplement to the code nine- 
teen hundred and seven shall apply and be payable to said short course upon 
proof of such organization and such short course having been held being filed 
with the State board of agriculture by the officers of said short course. 

Section 1679. * * * Ti^e director (of the experiment station) shall have 
advisory power to cooperate with the farmers' institute organizations of the 
several counties of the State for the purpose of arranging dates and providing 

101517°— Bull. 241—11 3 



18 

speakers or lecturers with a view to economy of time and travel in attending 
institutes, sucli institutes to be held as nearly as practicable in circuits and at 
such dates as will enable the speakers to attend two or more such institutes 
each week. 

The annual conAention is provided for under section 1657-D, at which each 
farmers' institute organization under provision sixteen hundred and seventy-five 
of the code is entitled to represent a membership, provided the State farmers' 
institute has been organized at least one year and has reported to the State 
secretary of agriculture not later than November first, through its president 
and secretary or executive committee, that an institute was held according to 
law, the date thereof, and the names and post-oflice addresses of its officers. 
That they shall also furnish said secretary of agriculture with a copy of each 
program hereafter held and one or more papers read before such institute if 
papers are read. In connection with the annual convention, either preceding or 
following the date on which the officers are elected, the board may hold a State 
farmers' institute for the discussion of practical and scientific topics relating to 
the various branches of agriculture, the substance of which shall be published 
in the annual report of the board. 

Approved April 21, 1909. 

KANSAS. 

Chapter 103. Session Laws of 1900. 

AN ACT Relating to farmers' institutes, and repealing chapter 23.8 of session laws of 

1903. 

Be it enacted hy the Legislature of the State of Kansas: 

Section 1. Whenever any county farmers' institute association in this State 
shall have elected a president, vice president, secretary-treasurer, and adopted 
a constitution and bj'-laws for its government, it shall be the duty of the county 
commissioners of such county to appropriate annually the sum of fifty dollars, 
or so unich thereof as may be necessary, to defray the legitimate expense of a 
two days' institute at such place in the county as may be designated by the 
executive committee of the institute association: Provided, That this act shall 
not apply to institute associations that have not been in successful operation 
at least one year : Provided further, That no county institute shall be granted 
any sum in excess of one dollar for each resident farmer who is a bona fide 
member of said institute at the time the request is made, the total amount 
granted not to exceed fifty dollars in any one year. 

Sec. 2. Whenever, in any county, a local institute shall be organized by or 
with the approval of the State farmers' institute department of the Kansas 
State Agricultural College, and shall have elected a president, vice president, 
and secretary-treasurer, and adopted a constitution and by-laws for its govern- 
ment, it shall be the duty of the county commissioners of such county to ap- 
propriate annually the sum of fifteen dollars, or so much thereof as may be 
necessary, to defray the legitimate expenses of a one-day institute: Provided, 
That this act shall not apply to institute associations that have not been in 
successful operation at least one year: Provided further. That not more than 
six such local institute associations in any county shall receive such aid in 
any one year: Provided further. That no local institute shall be granted any 
stun in excess of one dollar for each resident farmer who is a bona fide mem- 
ber of said institute at the time the request is made, and the total amount 
for such institute not to exceed fifteen dollars in any one year. 

Sec. 3. Each and every institute association to receive said appropriation 
shall submit with each request for aid a certificate from the State department 
[I'.iiii. i:ii] 



19 

of farmers' institutes of the Kansas State Agricultural College certifying that 
the said institute is legally organized and has held its annual meeting as above 
provided. 

Sec. 4. Chapter 238 of the session laws of nineteen hundred and three is 
hereby repealed. 

Sec. 5. This act shall be in force from and after its publication in the 
statute book. 

Approved, March 4, 1909. 

Demonstration Farm Law. 
Chapter 223. Session Law.s of 1909. 

AN ACT To authorize the board of county commissioners of any county in which an 
agricultural demonstration farm has heen or shall hereafter be located by the board 
of regents of the State agriculfural college to lease or donate a tract of land for 
such purpose and to appropriate money and contract for the maintenance of the same. 

Be it enacted by the Legislatnre of the State of Kansas: 

Section 1. The board of county commissioners of any county in this State in 
which an agricultural demonstration farm has been or shall be hereafter lo- 
cated, with the consent of such board of county commissioners, by the board 
of regents of the State agricultural college is hereby authorized to lease or 
donate to the board of regents of said college any portion of lands owned by 
said county, not exceeding forty acres in extent, suitable for use in demon- 
strating the value of crops and methods in farming, gardening, horticulture, 
and forestry, and to contract for the carrying on of such demonstration work 
under the plans, direction, and supervision of representatives of the board of 
regents of said college. 

Sec. 2. All work upon such demonstration farms shall be planned and 
supervised by representatives of the board of regents of said agricultural col- 
lege, and they may furnish such seeds and plants at reasonable cost on board 
the cars at Manhattan, Kans., as will not interfere with experimental work 
done at the college. 

Sec. 3. County commissioners may furnish suflHcient help and proper teams, 
tools, and materials, other than seeds, to do the work planned by the representa- 
tives of the board of regents, and are hereby authorized to pay out of the 
general fund the cost of such expeus^e and work, including traveling expenses 
of supervisor. The total cost to any county not to exceed fifteen hundred 
dollars for the first year nor five hundred dollars in any other year there- 
after. 

Sec. 4. All crops grown upon such demonstration farm to be the property 
of the county in which it is located, and any surplus shall be sold to the 
citizens thereof when desired for seed or propagation, or used for public in- 
stitutions ; the receipts from such sales to be credited to the farm. 

Sec. 5. That it may be known what is planted, methods used and results, 
each plat or planting shall be plainly and legibly marked for information of 
visitors to the farm and the representatives of the board of regents of said col- 
lege. The superintendents of said farms shall furnish data for a brief printed 
summary, giving the results in amounts and values at usual market prices, 
to the county clerk by December 1 of each year, who shall have same printed 
and give, through the county treasurer, a copy of the same to each taxpayer 
with his tax receipt, and to others on request, and to publish same in the oflicia] 
paper of the county. 
[Bull. 241] 



20 

Sec. 6. This act shall take effect aud be iu force from and after its publica- 
tion in the official State paper. 
Approved, March 2, 1909. 
Published in official State paper March 5, 1909. 

KENTUCKY. 

AN ACT Creating a State board of agriculture, forestry, and immigration, specifying 
the duties tliereof, and appropriating money tlierefor. 

Section 5. It shall be the duty of the commissioner of agriculture, labor, aud 
statistics, with the approval of said board, to see that a farmers' and industrial 
institute, of at least two days' duration, is held in each county of the State 
annually. The institute shall be advertised at least one month before con- 
vening, and an effort shall be made to interest and instruct the farmers in 
the most profitable and approved methods iu agriculture and horticulture, and 
awaken an interest in the industrial development of the State generally. This 
institute shall be used as a means of gathering the people together, of ascer- 
taining their names and post offices, learning their needs, and giving then in- 
formation in agriculture and other industrial lines, and of distributing litera- 
ture upon these subjects. The county institute shall select one or more crop 
reporters from each magisterial district in the county, to serve for one year 
without pay, whose duty shall be to report to the commissioner of agriculture, 
labor, and statistics monthly the acreage and condition of crops and such other 
information as he, under the law, may ask them. 

Each county institute shall elect one or more delegates to the State institute, 
as provided for in the next section of this net. 

Sec. 6. Said commissioner shall cause to be held at Frankfort, or some 
convenient place, as said board may agree upon, between the first day of 
January and the first day of March of each year, a State industrial institute 
for the farmers and others interested in the industrial development of the 
State, of at least three days' duration, at which only county delegates shall be 
entitled to vote, each county having one vote. Said commissioner shall be 
furnished the name and post-office address of each county delegate by the 
secretary of the county institute, and each delegate shall be notified of the 
time and place of holding the State institute at least ten days before same 
shall convene. 

Sec. 7. The first State institute shall be held in nineteen hundred and 
seven, at which two citizens shall be elected fi-om the appellate court dis- 
tricts by delegates of these respective districts as members of the State board 
of agriculture, forestry, and immigration for a period of four years, to fill the 
vacancies occurring by the expiration of the term of office of the two members 
appointed by the governor to serve until March first, nineteen hundred and 
seven, and each year thereafter the delegates to the State institute from the 
respective appellate districts shall elect a member of the board for a term 
of four years to fill the vacancy which shall occur the first of March of the 
."ame year. The governor shall appoint a member to fill any vacancies that 
may occur at any time, but said member shall only serve until the next 
State institute, when the delegates from that district shall elect as before to fill 
out the unexi)ired term. 

The goveruoi-, for just cause and for the good of agriculture and other in- 
terests of the State, may remove any member of the hoard, but he nnist state 
his reasons therefor iu writing, and it must be approved by a majority of the 
board. 

Approved, March 21. 1900. 
[Bull. 241] 



21 

For carrying out all the purposes of the board, including farmers' 
institutes, the sum of $20,000 per annum, in addition to the amount 
already appropriated for the benefit of the bureau of agriculture, 
labor, and statistics, was appropriated by the above act, 

LOUISIANA. 

Abstract from Constitution of Louisiana of 1898. 

Art. 306. The Louisiana State Board of Agriculture and Immigration sliall 
have the control and direction of all State agricultural organizations and State 
farmers' institutes, and shall adopt the needful measures for the securement of 
proper immigration. 

Act No. 162 of 1908. 

AN ACT To authorize the commissioner of agriculture and immigration of this State 
to employ a farmers' institute conductor, to provide for the payment of his salary, 
his expenses and the expenses incurred in conducting said farmers' institutes ; and to 
hold institutes for the instruction of the citizens of the State in the various branches 
of agriculture ; to designate the time and place where institutes are to be held ; to 
make such rules and regulations as he may deem proper for the guidance of institute 

• conductor, and for organizing and conducting such institutes ; to employ lecturers to 
perform such M^ork in connection therewith as the commissioner may direct ; to pro- 
vide the course of instruction at such institutes. 

Section 1. Be it enacted dy the Oeneral Assembly of the State of Louisiana, 
That the commissioner of agriculture and immigration is hei'eby authorized 
to appoint a farmers' institute conductor and fix his salary, and he shall hold 
office at the pleasure of the commissioner, and shall devote his time exclusively 
to the work, as said commissioner may direct. 

Sec. 2. Be it further enaeted, etc., Such institutes shall be held yearly at such 
time and at such places as said commissioner of agriculture may direct. The 
said commissioner shall make such rules and regulations as he may deem 
proper for oi'ganizing and conducting such institutes, and may call on the 
president of the Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical 
College to furnish one or more lecturers from the faculty or student body, 
whose traveling expenses shall be paid going to or returning from the institute 
work. The said commissioner may also employ one or more lecturers, male or 
female, at nominal salaries and traveling expense while so employed, to per- 
form such duties in connection with institute work as he may deem best, pro- 
vided he has the approval of the Louisiana State Board of Agriculture and 
Immigration. The course of instruction at such institutes shall be so arranged 
so as to present to those in attendance the results of the most recent investiga- 
tions In practical and scientific agriculture. 

Sec. 3. Be it further enacted, etc.. That the amounts for salaries, conducting 
institutes, publishing proceedings, printing, advertising, etc., shall be paid out 
of the fmids appropriated and set aside annually for farmers' institute work, 
on the warrant of the commissioner, signed by the secretary of the State board 
of agriculture and immigration. But in no year shall the aggregate sum ex- 
pended by the commissioner for salaries and conducting said institutes exceed 
the sum appropriated for that purpose. 

Sec. 4. Be it further enacted, etc., That this act shall take effect from and 
after its promulgation, and that all laws or parts of laws in conflict with its 
provisions are hereby repealed. 

[Bull. 241] 



22 

The Legislature of Louisiana has discontinued the appropriation 
to the Louisiana State Board of Agriculture for farmers' institutes 
and has included in the appropriation for the experiment station an 
item for farmers' institute work, the amount to be expended for in- 
stitutes being left to the discretion of the officers of the experiment 
station. 

MAINE. 

Chapter 60. Keviskd Statutes. 

Sec. 2. The commissioner of agriculture shall hold or cause to be held 
two farmers' institutes in each county annually and as many more as the 
appropriation therefor will allow. The work of said institutes shall be de- 
voted to the presentation and discussion of questions bearing upon agriculture 
and the agricultural interests of the State; and for this purpose said com- 
missioner may employ speakers who are qualified and versed in the subjects 
assigned them; and he shall semiannually publish in the leading agricultural 
paper of the State a list of available speakers and their subjects, from which 
lists selection may be made for said institute purposes. He may also apix)iut 
and employ assistants, experts, lecturers, a stenographer, and other aids needed 
in conducting such institute work, and shall fix the compensation of such 
employees. He may hold such institutes independentlj' or in connection with 
other organizations devoted to agricultural interests and as far as possible 
and for the best agricultural interests of the State, aid and encourage agri- 
cultural societies and associations in the State, and shall collect and preserve 
In his office for public inspection all valuable data relating to the practical 
work of such societies and associations. 

Sec. 3. (As amended by P. L. 1909, c. 98.) He shall, in connection with and 
with the aid of the State dairymen's association, annually hold a State dairy- 
men's conference for the exhibit of dairy products and appliances, wherein 
prizes for high merit and qualitj' in butter and cheese may be offered, and 
may employ experts and lecturers to enhance dairy interests, but the expenses 
of the same shall not exceed the sum of seven hundred dollars annually. 

Skc. 4. An appropriation of three thousand dollars annually shall be made 
for said institute work and for all other purposes set out in rhe two preceding 
sections. 

Sec. 5. The commissioner of agriculture shall aid and assist societies and 
associations organized and established for the advancement of pomology, horti- 
culture, and dairy work, also societies devoted to the interests of the pure 
breeding of stock of all kinds. 

Sec. 6. He shall apiwrtion annua lly the stiiiend duo from the State to the 
said agricultural societies, including the State pomological society ; he shall 
issue blanks to the proper officers of said societies for such returns as may be 
deemed necessary for a full and complete knowledge of the work of said 
societies for each j'ear, and shall certify to the governor and council the 
amount of bounty due such society, and shall designate to the treasurer of 
State to whom such moneys shall be paid, but said societies shall not be enti- 
tled to such bounty unless they shall nuike such returns. 

Sec. 7. He shall annually make a report to the governor and council, on or 

before the first day of .Tannary of each year, of the work of the dei>artniont 

of agriculture in detail, combining in the same a report of the State i)onio- 

logical society. State dairymen's association, and the State of Maine cattle 

[Bull. 241] 



23 

commission, and all other matters relating to the promotion of agriculture; 
and for the purpose of making his said report, said society, association, and 
commission shall furnish said commissioner with all necessary data therefor 
on or before the first day of December of each year. He shall further report 
all farmers' institutes held and the work therein done, and all public lectures 
carried on under his authority, and such part of said reports as is of public 
interest shall be printed for free distribution ; for the purpose of making up 
his report as herein provided, said commissioner shall attend the various agri- 
cultural exhibitions in the State and report upon the quality and character of 
the work of the same. 

MABYLAND. 

Chapter 102. 

AN ACT To provide for the formation of farmers' institutes in the State of Maryland, 
and to appropriate a sum of money therefor. 

Be it enacted hy the General AssemWy of Maryland: 

Section 1. That a department of farmers' institutes shall be established for 
the State of Maryland; that the purpose of these institutes shall be to bring 
before the farmers of the State such information as will effectually remedy 
many of the existing evils now prevalent in every department of agriculture 
as now pursued in Maryland, and that at said institutes men competent to 
instruct shall be present, and such topics shall be discussed as pertain to the 
principal agricultural interests of the several sections. 

Sec. 2. And he it enacted, That one such institute shall be held in each year 
in each county of the State, and an additional one in each county if deemed 
necessary and desirable. 

Sex3. 3. And he it enacted. That said institute shall be under the direction of 
a director to be appointed by the trustees of the Maryland Agricultural Col- 
lege, who shall be a person well versed in the profession of agriculture and of 
practical experience, whose title shall be director of farmers' institutes, whose 
salary shall be fixed by said board of trustees and paid out of the appropriation 
hereinafter provided, and whose duties shall be defined by said board ; that the 
said institutes shall be a department of said college similar to the experiment 
station ; that all expenses of said institutes shall be paid out of said appropria- 
tion, and that said board of trustees be, and hereby is, invested with all powers 
necessarj^ to carry into effect the provisions of this act, but no expense shall 
be incurred beyond the amount appropriated. 

Sec, 4.^ And he it enacted, That the sum of three thousand dollars per annum 
be, and the same hereby is, appropriated for the formation and support of 
farmers' institutes in this State, and that the comptroller be, and he is hereby, 
authorized to issue his warrant annually upon the treasurer of the State for 
the said sum of money, out of any fund not otherwise appropriated ; that the 
said sum of money shall be payable to the order of the Maryland Agricultural 
College on or after the first day of October of each fiscal year, and that the 
first yearly payment shall be made during the fiscal year ending September 
thirtieth, eighteen hundred and ninety-six. 

Sec. 5. And he it enacted, That accurate accounts of the expenditures of the 
money received under this act be kept by the registrar of the Maryland Agri- 
cultural College, separate from the general college accounts, and that an item- 
ized and detailed report of such expenditure be made annually and published 

1 By the act of 1904 the sura of $6,000 is annually appropriated, being $3,000 more 
than the original appropriation. 
[Bull. 241] 



24 

in such manner as the board of trustees of tlie Maryland Agricnltnral College 
shall direct. 

Sec. 6. And be it enacted, That this act shall take effect from the date of its 
passage. 

Approved, March 27, 1896. 

MASSACHUSETTS. 

The farmers' institutes of Massachusetts are held under a general 
law establishing the board of agriculture, which authorizes it to " dis- 
seminate useful information in agriculture by lectures or otherwise." 

An approiDriation of $4,000 was made by the last legislature for the 
purposes indicated in the above extract from the law. This included 
farmers' institutes, the cost of issuing crop reports, nature leaflets, 
and bulletins. 

RULES. 

Rule 15 of the State board of agriculture requires that " each agri- 
cultural society receiving the bounty of the Commonwealth shall hold 
within its limits not less than three farmers' institutes each calendar 
year, and the board shall render all the assistance in its power to make 
these institutes interesting and profitable. The secretary of the 
board shall provide lecturers for farmers' institutes, so far as the 
appropriation for the object will allow and a wise expenditure of the 
money warrant, but he shall not be authorized to pRj more than one 
lecturer for each institute. The secretary of each society shall be 
required to certify to the holding of each institute, on blanks fur- 
nished by the secretarj^ of the board." 

MICHIGAN. 
Act 137, PrsLic Acts, 1899. 

AN .\CT to authorize the State board of agriculture to hold institutes and to establish 
and maintain courses of reading and lectui-es for the instruction of citizens of this 
State in the various branches of agriculture, mechanic arts, domestic economy, and the 
sciences relating thereto, and making an appropriation therefor for the fiscal years 
ending June thirty, nineteen hundred, and .Tune thirty, nineteen hundred one, and to 
provide a tax to meet the same. 

The people of the State of MichUjan enact: 

Section 1. That the State board of agriculture is hereby authorized to hold 
institutes and to establish and maintain courses of reading and lectures for the 
instruction of citizens of this State in the various branches of agriculture, 
mechanic arts, domestic economy, and the sciences relating thereto. The Siiid 
board shall formulate such rules and regulations as it shall deem proper to 
carry on the work contemplated in this act, and may employ such agent or 
agents to perform such duties in connection therewith as it shall deem best. 

Sec. 2. In each county where an institute society shall be organized and main- 
tained under the provisions of this act, the State board of agriculture shall 
annually hold at least one institute of at least two days in length. When 
twenty or more persons, residents of any county in this State, shall oi-ganize 

themselves into a society, to be called the County Farmers' Institute 

Society, for the purpose of carrying out the objects of this act, and in accord- 
[Bu'l. 241] 



25 

ance with rules and regulations furnished by the State board of agriculture, 
such society shall be deemed an institute society in the meaning of this act : 
Provided, That not more than one such institute society in any county shall be 
authorized by this act. The State board of agriculture shall hold one-day insti- 
tutes in such counties of the State as it may deem expedient, hut not to exceed 
four annually in any one county. The State board of agriculture may also hold, 
at such places and times as it may determine, special institutes at which the 
primary object shall be to furnish a school of instruction in the lines specified 
in section one of this act. 

Sec. 3. For the purposes mentioned in the preceding section, the State board 
of agriculture may use such sum as it shall deem proper, not exceeding the sum 
of five thousand five hundred dollars, in the year ending June thirty, nineteen 
hundred, and five thousand five hundred dollars in the year ending June thirty, 
nineteen hundred one : Provided, That two hundred dollars of this appropriation 
shall be available before June thirty, eighteen hundred ninety-nine. 

Sec. 4. The several sums appropriated by the provisions of this act shall be 
paid out of the general fund in the State treasury to the treasurer of the State 
board of agriculture, at such times and in such amounts as the general account- 
ing laws of the State prescribe, and the disbursing officer shall render his 
accounts to the auditor-general thereunder. 

Sec. 5. The auditor-general shall incorporate in the State tax for the year 
eighteen hundred ninety-nine the sum of five thousand five hundred dollars, and 
for the year nineteen hundred the sum of five thousand five hundred dollars, 
which, when collected, shall be credited to the general fund to reimburse the 
same for the moneys hereby appropriated. 

Sec. 6. The State board of agi-iculture is further authorized to publish an 
annual report, to be known as the " Farmers' Institute Bulletin," of not to 
exceed two hundred fifty pages, which shall contain, besides statistical reports 
of the work done and expenditures incurred under this act, such addresses and 
discussions occurring at the meetings held under this act as the board of agri- 
culture shall deem of sufficient interest to warrant publication. The board 
of State auditors is hereby directed to print said report and to cause it to be 
bouad in substantial binding, in the same manner as other reports are printed 
and bound, and in number sufficient to furnish one to each member of each 
county farmers' institute society organized under this act, and not to exceed 
one thousand five hundred in addition for general distribution by the board of 
agriculture. The secretary of the State is hereby directed to ship by freight to 
the secretary of each regularly organized county farmers' institute society a 
sufficient number of copies of said report to supply one to each member of such 
county societies. 

Sec. 7. The board of agriculture, the board of State auditors, and the secre- 
tary of State are hereby authorized and directed to publish, print, bind, and 
distribute a similar report for the year ending June thirtieth, eighteen hundred 
ninety-nine, as provided in section four, for future reports under this act. 

This act is ordered to take immediate effect. 

Approved June 21, 1S99. 

Act 232, Public Acts, 1901. 

Sec. 3. The State board of agriculture is hereby authorized to hold institutes 
and to establish and maintain courses of reading and lectures for instruction 
in the various branches of agriculture, mechanic arts, domestic economy, and 
the related sciences, which courses of reading, instruction, and lectures shall be 
conducted, governed, and controlled by act number one hundred thirty-seven of 

[Bull. 241] 



26 

the public acts of eighteen liundred ninetj--iiine providing for the same: Pro- 
vicbhng, That not less than seven thousand tive hundred dollars shall be ex- 
pended annually for the purposes provided in said act ; but the number of one- 
day institutes shall be determined by said State board of agriculture. 
Approved June 6, 1901. 

MINNESOTA. 

Revised Laws of 1905. 

1452. Board of administration — Superintendent. The board of administra- 
tion of farmers' institutes shall consist of six members, three of whom shall 
be regents of the university, selected by and holding office at the pleasure of 
the board of regents, and the remaining three, at the time of their taking office, 
shall be the presidents, respectively, of the State agricultural society, the State 
dairy association, and the State horticultural society ; and they shall serve for 
three years, and until their successors qualify. When the term of any of the 
last three members mentioned expires, he shall be succeeded on the board by 
the person then president of the organization through which he became a mem- 
ber. The board shall elect from among its number a president and a secretary, 
and from outside its number a superintendent, whose term of otfice shall be 
two years, but who may be removed at the pleasure of the board. He sliall 
I'eceive a salary of fifteen hundred dollars per year and his expenses necessarily 
incurred in the performance of his duties. (1903, c. 221, sees. 4, 5, 6, 9.) 

1453. Duties of the board. The board shall arrange the institute circuits 
to be held annually, determine w'hen and w^here the institutes shall be held, 
audit the accounts of the superintendent at the close of each fiscal year, such 
auditing to be final, and file them with the State auditor, and publish an- 
nually a handbook of practical agriculture entitled. " Farmers' Institute 
Annual," for free distribution among the farmers of the State. The expense of 
the publication shall be met from the appropriation hereinafter made. (1903, 
c. 221, sees. 7, 10, 11.) 

1454. Institutes, their character and object. The dissemination of prac- 
tical knowledge concerning agriculture, horticulture, and stock and dairy 
farming shall be the sole objects of the institutes. They shall be held at times 
and places most convenient to the farmers, and each meeting shall occupy from 
one to three days, with sessions mornings, afternoons, and, w^hen practicable, 
evenings. All sessions shall be free and public, and shall consist of practical 
lectures on subjects pertaining to farm and home, -with addresses, discussions, 
and illustrations of methods adapted to our agriculture. (1903, c. 221. sec. 12.) 

1455. Superintendent's duties. The superintendent shall assist the board 
in arranging institute circuits, superintend the several institutes, engage in- 
structors therefor, examine all bills for expenses and services payable out of 
appropriations for such purposes, and at the end of each fiscal year make a 
detailed report to the board of all institutes held under his direction, including 
therein the items of such expenses and services. (1903, c. 221, sees. 7, 8.) 

145(5, Standing appkopkiation. The sum of eighteen thousind dollars is 
hereby annually appropriated for the puriioses of such institutes. No war- 
rant shall be issued for such purpose unless the claim be approved b.v the 
superintendent and by the president of the board. The average cost of the 
institutes for the neces.sary traveling expenses and board of the instructors, 
and their compensation, shall not exceed one hundred and fifty dollars, the 
expenses incurred in preliminary work not included. No money shall be spent 
for hall rent, fuel, lights, local advertising, or for the compensation of instruc- 
tors other than those regularly emiilo.vetl. Expenses as allowed in this chapter 
for carrying on the institute work of the board, when made prior to August_ 

[Bull. LMl J 



27 

first in any calendar year when the legislative appropriation for said year lias 
been exhausted, may be paid from an appropriation already made and to 
become due on said August first, and shall not be construed as creating a de- 
ficiency. (1003. c. 221, sees. 1-3. 9.) 

MISSISSIPPI. 

Chapter 42. House Bill No. 508. 

AN ACT To make an appropriation to defray the expenses of the department of farmers' 
institute and agricultural extension in the Mississippi Agricultural and Mechanical 
College. 

Section 1. Be M enacted dij the Legislature of the State of Mississippi, That 
the sum of five thousand dollars for the year nineteen hundred and eight, and 
the sum of five thousand dollars for the year nineteen hundred and nine, or 
so much thereof as may be necessary, out of any money in the State treasury 
not otherwise appropriated, be, and the same is hereby, appropriated for the 
support of farmers' institutes and agricultural extension in the Mississippi 
Agricultural and Mechanical College. 

Sec. 2. That accurate accounts of the expenditures of the money received 
under this act shall be kept by the treasurer of the Mississippi Agricultural and 
Mechanical College, separate from the general college accounts, and that an 
itemized and detailed report of such expenditures be made annually and pub- 
lished in such manner as the board of trustees of the Mississippi Agricultural 
and Mechanical College shall direct. 

How drawn and expended. 

Sec. 3. The money hereby appropriated shall be drawn and expended under 
the direction of the board of trustees of the Mississippi Agricultural and 
Mechanical College for the purposes above named and no other, and in the 
same manner as other appropriations for the said college. 

Sec. 4. That this act shall take effect and be in force from and after its 
passage. 

Approved, March 17, 1908. 

The appropriation of $5,000 for the j^ears 1908 and 1909 has been 
continued for 1910 and 1911. 

MISSOURI. 
Revised Laws of Missouri Kelating to Agriculture and Hoeticultuke. 

Section 602. Extension course in agriculture — when held — how con- 
ducted. Whenever fifty or more resident farmers of any county in this State, 
through the county court of such coimty, shall petition the State board of agri- 
culture to hold at the county seat of such county, or such other place as may 
be designated by the county court, an extension course in agriculture, not to 
exceed ten days in length, during which time there shall be given lectures, 
demonstrations, and practical instruction in stock breeding and feeding, stock 
judging, crop growing, seed selection, seed testing, fertilizers and soil improve- 
ment, dairying, poultry raising, road making, and any other subject of interest 
and profit to farmers, it shall be the duty of the State board of agriculture to 
employ and send competent men to conduct a course of instruction in such of 
the above subjects as may be of the most benefit to the community where the 
meeting is held : Provided, That the petitioners shall furnish the State board 
of agriculture with a hall suitable for holding the meeting free of expense: 
Provided further. That the number of days duration of the meeting and the 
dates for holding it shall be agreed upon by the county court and the State 
board of agriculture. (Laws 1909, p. 119.) 
[Bull. 241] 



28 

MONTANA. 

AN ACT Entitled "An act to amend an act providing for farmers' institutes, and making 
an appropriation therefor," approved March 14, 1901. 

Be it enacted hy the Legislative Assembly of the State of Montana: 

Section 1. That section 1 of said act be, and the same is hereby, amended so 
as to read as follows : 

" Section 1. The board of administration of the farmers' institutes, as pro- 
vided for in this act, shall consist as follows: 

" Tbe governor of the State and the director of the Montana Experiment Sta- 
tion, both of whom shall be ex officio members, and the presidents of the 
following-named organizations : 

" The Montana Registered Cattle Breeders' Association, the Montana WogI- 
growers' Association, the Montana Live Stock Association, the Montana Herti- 
cultural Society, the Montana State Board of Horticulture, the Montana Agri- 
cultural Association, and the Montana Dairyman's Association, when these last 
two shall have been duly organized. Members of such board of administration 
shall be designated the ' directors of the Montana farmers' institutes,' and shall 
be authorized to hold institutes for the instruction of the citizens of this State 
in the various branches of agriculture, and shall prescribe such rules and regu- 
lations as they may deem best for organizing and conducting the same. Such 
institutes shall be held at least once in each county in each year, and at such 
times and places as the directors may designate; provided the requirements of 
the board of administration have been complied with, such as county institutes 
or local organizations providing a suitable hall, lighting and heating the same, 
and bearing necessary advertising expense. The directors may employ an 
agent or agents to perform such work in organizing or conducting such institutes 
as they may deem best. A course of instruction at such institutes shall be so 
arranged as to present to those in attendance the results of the most recent 
investigations in theoretical and practical agriculture." 

Approved February 11, 1909. 

The appropriations for expenses of farmers' institutes for the 
years 1911 and 1012 are $10,000 for each year. 

NEBRASKA. 

There is no State htw under which the farmers'' institutes are held 
in Nebraska. The institutes were started through the cooperation 
of the several State societies interested in agriculture with the 
University of Nebraska. The legislature, however, has ap])ropriated 
$35,000 to the university for the biennial period of 1011 and 1912. 
The university employs a superintendent of farmers' institutes who 
lias charge of the field work. 

Except at entirely new points the hotel bills of the speakers arc 
paid by the local organization which cooperates with the university. 
The local organization also bears the expenses of hall rent, heating, 
lighting, and local advertising. 

NEVADA. 

There are no laws in Nevada with respect to the organization and 
conducting of farmers' institutes. The institutes are held under the 
direction of the experiment station staff. 

[Bull. I'll] 



29 

NEW HAMPSHIRE. 

Public Statutes of New Hampshire. Chaptek 12. 

Sec. 9. The secretary shall keep a record of all the proceedings of the board, 
which shall be open at all times to public inspection. He shall aid the board 
by obtaining all the information he can concerning the adaptation of the soils 
and climate of the State to the raising of grasses, grains, vegetables, fruits, 
and other products ; the best methods for their cultivation ; the production and 
rearing of domestic animals ; the machinery and implements best adapted to the 
requirements of farmers and horticulturists, and all other subjects that will 
increase the prosperity and profit of agricultural and horticultural pursuits in 
the State. He shall inaTce arrangements for, give puhUc notice of, a/nd, if pos- 
sible, personally attend the farmers' meetings authorized hy the board, and 
report to the board all the important information there obtained. He shall 
perform such other duties as may be assigned to him by the board. 

NEW JERSEY. 

The farmers' institutes in New Jersey are organized and conducted 
under authority granted to the State board of agriculture by the 
legislature. The section of the act is as follows : 

Be it enacted, etc.. That in order to collect and disseminate reliable and 
useful information and to encourage a higher standard in the agriculture and 
horticulture of the State the executive committee are hereby authorized to 
cause to be made experimental and practical tests of specific remedies or cures 
of diseases of domestic. animals and poultry and to employ suitable persons 
to lecture before the State board of agriculture, at its annual or other meet- 
ings, and in the counties of the State as far as the sum herein appropriated 
will allow. 

The executive committee of the State board of agriculture has 
delegated the management and conduct of the institutes to the 
secretary of the board. 

There is also a provision in the g-eneral statutes relating to the 
State agricultural college, which directs " that the board of trustees 
shall cause to be delivered annually in each county in this State 
one or more public lectures upon the subject of agriculture free of 
charge." 

NEW MEXICO. 

In New Mexico the farmers' institute work nas been performed by 
the agricultural college and experiment station. There has been no 
legislation providing for the organization of institutes, and no ap- 
propriation was made by the Territorial legislature of 1909 for 
institute purposes. 

NEW YORK. 

Section 2 of article 2 of the agricultural la;w of the State of New 
York defines the duties of the commissioner of agriculture as follows : 

The commissioner of agriculture shall be the chief of the department. The 
commissioner of agriculture shall be appointed by the governor, by and with the 
advice and consent of the senate. His term of office shall be three years. 
[Bull. 241] 



30 

* * * He may appoint a director of funncrs' in.'ititutcs aud such clerks and 
assistant commissioners and employ such clerks, chemists, agents, and counsel 
as he may deem necessary for the proper enforcement of such laws and the 
proper administration of the department, who shall receive such compensation 
as may be fixed by him and their necessary expenses. The compensation of his 
clerks, assistants, and other persons employed by him and such necessary ex- 
penses shall be paid on his certificate by the treasurer on the warrant of the 
comptroller. All other charges, accounts, and expenses of the department 
authorized by law shall be paid by the treasurer on the warrant of the 
comptroller, after they have been audited and allowed by the comptroller. 
The trustees of public buildings shall furnish suitable rooms for the use of the 
department in the capitol. 

Section 31 of article 3 of the agricultural law reads as follows : 

Care and feed of coivs, and care and keeping of the produce from such cows. 

No person shall keep cows, for the production of milk for market or for 
sale or exchange, or for manufacturing the milk or cream from the same into 
any article of food, in a crowded or unhealthy condition or in unhealthful or 
insanitary surroundings, and no person shall keep such cows or the product 
therefrom in such condition or surroundings or in such places as shall cause 
or tend to cause the produce from such cows to be in an unclean, unhealthful, 
or diseased condition, if the produce from such cows is to be sold, offered, or 
exposed for sale upon the markets for consumption or to be manufactured into 
any food product, nor shall such cows or the produce therefrom be handled or 
cared for by any iDerson suffering with or aft'ected by an infectious or con- 
tagious disease, nor shall any such cows be fed on any substance that is in a 
state of putrefaction or fermentation, or upon any food that is unhealthful or 
that produces or may produce impure, unhealthful, diseased, or unwholesome 
milk. But this section shall not be construed to prohibit the feeding of 
ensilage. The commissioner of agriculture is hereby empowered to give such 
■instruction and impart such information as in his judgment may be deemed 
best to produce a full observance of the provisions of this section. 

Section 98 of article 5 of the agricultural law contains the fol- 
lowing : 

The chief veterinarian shall, under the direction of the commissioner of 
agriculture, have general charge of the enforcement of the provisions of this 
article, and shall collect and disseminate through farmers' institutes or other- 
wise, as the commissioner may direct, information and statistics in relation to 
the diseases of domestic animals, the proper care and sanitation of stables and 
other buildings used for the stabling of farm animals for the purpose of pre- 
venting the existence and spread of infectious and contagious diseases, the 
method of feetling, the methods of improving the breed or milking qualities of 
cattle, and such otlici- matters as the commissioner may direct. 

The appropriation bill for tlie fiscal year beginning on the 1st day 
of October, 1910, contains a clause which reads as follows: 

For maintenance and extension of farmers' institutes held under the 
ausi)ices of the commissioner of agriculture, including inspections of and 
recommendations concerning farms connected with State institutions as pro- 
vided in the agricultural law, twenty-five thousand dollars, or so much thereof 
as may be necessary, to bo paid upon the order of the counnissioner of agri- 
culture, and certifi(Hl in sums as needed, and for which vouchers for expendi- 
tures duly audited and verified by him shall bo rendered. 
IRiiU. 241] 



31 

NORTH CAROLINA. 

The.Legiolature of North Carolina, by an act which went into effect 
March 9, 1901, makes it the duty of the commissioner of agriculture, 
by and with the consent and advice of the board of agriculture, to 
hold " farmers' institutes in the several counties of the State as fre- 
quently as may be deemed advisable in order to instruct the people 
in improved methods in farming, in the beneficial use of fertilizers 
and composts, and to ascertain the wants and necessities of the 
various farming communities; and may collect the papers and 
addresses made at these institutes and publish the same in pamphlet 
form annually for distribution among the farmers of the State. He 
may secure such assistants as may be necessary or beneficial in hold- 
ing such institutes." 

NORTH DAKOTA. 

Sections 1, 3, and 5 of the follo^ving act, creating a State farmers'' 
•institute board of directors and regulating the holding of such insti- 
tutes, constitute portions of a law that went into effect July 1, 1901. 

Sections 2 and 4 are amendments to the foregoing act and were 
approved March 15, 1905. 

Section 1. There is hereby established a farmers' institute board composed of 
the president of the board of trustees of the North Daliota Agricultural College, 
the commissioner of agriculture and labor, the director of the experiment sta- 
tion, the professor of agriculture, and the professor of dairying of the North 
Dakota Agricultural College. 

Sec. 2. (Organization of board.) The State farmers' institute board of 
directors shall have power to organize by electing one of its members to act 
as president and one to act as secretary, and it is hereby made its duty to 
employ a directoi: of farmers' institutes and such other institute lecturers as 
may be deemed necessary ; to authorize the holding of not less than 50 insti- 
tutes each year, the same to be of such a nature as to instruct the farmers of 
the State in maintaining the fertility of the soil, the improvement of cereal crops 
grown in the State, principles of breeding as applied to domestic animals, the 
making and handling of dairy products, the destruction of noxious weeds and 
injurious insects, forestry, and growing of fruits, feeding and management of 
live stock, and in general such instruction as will tend to promote the pros- 
perity, home life, and comfort of the farming population. 

Sec. 3. No member of this board shall receive any compensation for his serv- 
ices, but shall be allowed his actual and necessary traveling expenses when 
engaged upon business connected with the proper discharge of his duties under 
this act. 

Sec. 4. (Appropriation for institutes.) There is hereby appropriated, out 
of any money in the State treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of six 
thousand dollars annually for carrying out the purposes of this act. All 
charges, accounts, and expenses authorized by this act shall be paid by the 
treasurer of the State, upon the approval of the State board of audit, when 
certified by the president and secretary of the board of directors. 

Sec. 5. All acts and parts of acts in conflict with the provisions of this act 
are hereby repealed. 

[Bull. 241] 



32 

OHIO. 

Law Governing Faemers' Institute Societies in Ohio. 
[Passed April 26, 1890, and amended April 27, 1806, and March 31, 1906.] 

Be it enacted by the General Assemblij of the State of Ohio: 

Section 1. That when twenty or more persons, residents of any county in 
the State, organize themselves into a farmers' institute society, for the purpose 
of teaching better methods of farming, stock raising, fruit culture, and all 
branches of business connected with the industry of agriculture, and adopt a 
constitution and by-laws agreeable to rules and regulations furnished by the 
State board of agriculture; and when such society shall have elected proper 
officers and performed such other acts as may be required by the rules of the 
State board of agriculture, such society shall be deemed a body corporate. 

Sec. 2. Not to exceed four farmers' institute societies organized under the 
provisions of this act shall hold annual meetings under the auspices of the 
State board of agriculture in any one county in the State, and the State board 
of agriculture shall have power to determine the number and name the times 
and places for holding such institute meetings. 

Sec. 3. When a society organized under the provisions of this act shall have 
held an annual farmers' institute meeting in accordance with the rules of the 
State board of agriculture, the secretary of said board shall issue certificates, 
one to the president of the farmers' institute society and one to the president 
of the State board of agriculture, setting forth these facts, and on the presenta- 
tion of these certificates to the county auditor, he shall each year draw orders 
on the treasurer of the county as follows : One in favor of the president of the 
State board of agriculture for the sum of one hundred and twenty-five dollars, 
and one in favor of the president of each farmers' institute society in the 
county, holding meetings under the auspices and by the direction of the State 
board of agriculture, for a sum not to exceed thirty-one dollars and twenty- 
five cents, for the payment of necessary local expenses, and the treasurer of 
the county shall pay the same from the county fund: Provided, That in no 
county shall the total annual sum exceed two hundred and fifty dollars: And 
provided further, That the payment to any institute society shall not exceed 
the expense, as per detailed statement, provided in section four of this act. 

Sec 4. With each certificate of the secretary of the State board of agricul- 
ture to the county auditor, which certificate shall indicate the number of so- 
cieties organized in the county and holding meetings by direction of the State 
board of agriculture, and before the auditor issues his order upon the treasurer, 
there shall be filed with the auditor a detailed statement of the expenses of 
the institute for the current year, no part of which shall be for salaries of 
officers of the institute society ; but this provision shall not apply to the order 
in favor of the president of the State board of agriculture, which board shall 
issue statement as required in section six of this act. 

Sec. 5. At the annual farmers' institute meetings, held under the provisions 
of this act and under the auspices of the State board of agriculture, the said 
board shall furnish lecturers or speakers whose compensation and expenses 
shall be paid by the board. 

Sec. G. At the close of each season's institute work, the State board of agri- 
culture shall publish in pamphlet or book form such lectures and papers de- 
livered at the several institute meetings as may seem of general interest and 
importance to the farmers, stock breeders, and horticulturists of the State, 
copies of which shall be furnished the secretary of each institute society, and 
the balance issued to be for .general distribution: the cost of preparing the 
[Bull. 241] 



33 

matter and the distribution of the pamphlet or book to be paid by the State 
board of agriculture. Said board shall also publish in such pamphlet or book 
a detailed statement of its receipts under the provisions of this act, and the 
disbursements on account of institute work. 

Sec. 7. Said original act entitled "An act to provide for the organization 
and support of farmers' institutes," passed April tvrenty-sixth, eighteen hundred 
and ninety, is hereby repealed, and this act shall take effect and be in force 
from and after its passage. 

OKLAHOMA. 

County Farmers' Institutes. 

AN ACT For the encouragement of farmers' institutes and autliorizing the county clerks 
to draw warrants under certain conditions. 

Be it enacted by the people of the State of Olclahoma : 

Section 1. That in order to promote the extension of farmers' institute 
work, to encourage its better organization, and to increase the moneys ex- 
pended for such work, the president of any farmers' county institute held under 
the regulations adopted by the State board of agriculture in any county in the 
State of Oklahoma shall be entitled to draw from the county treasury of such 
county a sum of money not exceeding two hundred dollars, to be paid on a 
warrant dra^^'n by the county clerk, which said warrant shall be issued to 
such county president upon full compliance with the terms of this act. 

Sec. 2. The president of any farmers' county institute making application for 
a warrant, as provided for in section 1 of this act, shall file with the county 
clerk, at the time of making such application, a verified statement as follows, 
to wit : A true and correct statement of the total paid membership in such 
county, which statement shall contain the names of the members paid, and no 
name shall be listed unless the person so listed shall have paid a membership 
fee of at least fifty cents, such statement shall also show the total amount of 
such membership fees collected in such county, a true and cori*ect itemized 
statement of expense of such county institute, the receipted vouchers showing 
payment in full of all expenses so itemized being attached to such report. 

Sec. 3. Any county in the State of Oklahoma where auxiliary organizations 
to county farmers' institutes have been, or hereafter may be, organized under 
regulations adopted by the State board of agriculture, such auxiliary organi- 
zations to be known as poultry associations, dairymen's associations, or women's 
auxiliary organizations for county institute work, and such auxiliary organi- 
zations are maintained separate and distinct from the organizations of such 
county institutes of such county and work under separate program, such aux- 
iliary organizations charge and collect an annual membership fee of not less 
than twenty-five cents, and the president of such auxiliary organization makes 
a verified report to the president of the county institute in all particulars as 
required of the president of the county institute in section 2 of this act, then 
such auxiliax'y organizations shall be considered a part of such county insti- 
tute, and the report of such auxiliary organization shall be combined with 
the report of such county institute by adding similar items, and the totals of 
such additions shall be considered as the totals of the county institutes. 

Sec. 4. The county clerk shall draw a warrant on the county treasurer pay- 
able to the order of the president of the county institute for the sum repre- 
sented by subtracting the total receipts of membership dues from the total 
expenses of conducting such institute, as shown by the county president's 
itemized report and receipted vouchers filed with the report of such president : 
Provided, That no warrant shall be drawn for a sum in excess of the total 
[Bull. 241] 



34 

receipts of memliersliip clues: And, provUlcd further. That sneli warrants shall 
be drawn but once during any calendar year. 

Sec. 5. The term expenses as used in section two of this act shall be con- 
strued to include any prize or prizes offered by such county institute or auxil- 
iary organizations to stimulate competition in experimental work in agricul- 
ture, poultry breeding, dairy or domestic science research; rewards offered 
for results of extraordinary excellence in agriculture, poultry breeding, dairy 
or domestic science domain ; or the necessary cost of cooperative work of an 
educational character along the lines of agricultural, horticultural, poultry 
breeding, dairy or domestic science development : Provided, That the scheme or 
plan of such special work provided for in this section shall have been adopted 
by the county institute and that competition shall be open to every eligible per- 
son of that particular class residing in such county. In adopting any such 
scheme or plan of special work, every member of such county institute or 
auxiliary organization not in arrears for payment of annual membership dues 
shall be entitled to one vote, and a plurality of all. votes cast shall determine 
the adoption of any proposed scheme. 

Sec. G. Any president of the county institute who shall knowingly file a false 
report, or any olhcer of the county institute or auxiliary organization whose 
duty it shall be to keep a record of the attendance or render an accounting 
for moneys received or expended who shall knowingly make or submit a false 
report, or any officer of such county institute or auxiliary organization who 
shall expend any of the receipts of such county institute or auxiliary organi- 
zation in any other manner than that shown by such verified report and by the 
receipted vouchers filed therewith, or any iierson who shall sign a fraudulent 
voucher showing moneys expended which were not so expended shall be deemed 
guilty of a misdemeanor and shall upon conviction be fined in any sum not 
exceeding fifty dollars. 

Sec. 7. This act is supplemental to the act approved March third, nineteen 
hundred and eight, providing for the organization of the board of agriculture, 
and so forth, in force March third, nineteen hundred and eight, and repeals 
none of the provisions of said act. 

Approved ]March twenty-second, nineteen hundred and nine. 

Regulations for Conouct or Institute Work. 

In view of the provisions in recent institute act for effecting and promoting 
permanent local organizations, and for meeting the expenses of the local asso- 
ciations, and in accordance with the provisions of the original act creating the 
farmers' institute system in Oklahoma, the State board of agriculture announces 
the following general policy and plan of conducting the work under the exist- 
ing laws : 

1. The State board of agriculture will, as heretofore, select a superintendent 
of institutes and such additional and suitable i)ersons as shall be necessary to 
conduct the institute work under the provisions of the laws governing institutes, 
and the rules and regulations of the board. 

2. The State superintendent of farmers' institutes, under authority from the 
board, will, with the ad\'ice of the county officers, arrange the schedule of meet- 
ings, reserving the right to fix the time and place of same and assign the State 
speakers. 

8. The Stale Ixiard of agriculture will use the State appropriation to pay for 
the services and traveling expenses of the sui)erintendent and of State speakei'S. 
the general supervision of the work, and for such further improvement and 
extension of the farmers' institute work as the funds will permit. 
[Bull. 241] 



35 

4. The local expenses of farmers' Ir.stitntes, such as hall rent, extra speakers, 
postage, printmg, stationery, advertising, etc., will be met from the fund derived 
from membership dues supplemented from the appropriation from the county 
treasury, as provided for in the institute act of 1909. 

5. The State board of agriculture authorizes and directs the county institute 
organization and auxiliary associations, acting together upon the request of 
the State superintendent of farmers' institutes, to advise said officers as to the 
time, places, and subjects desired for meetings to be held in the county the 
ensuing year. 

6. The State board authorizes and directs the county institute association, 
including auxiliary organizations (where they exist or may be formed) to 
arrange for, and duly advertise the meeting or meetings announced in the 
schedule of farmers' institutes, and properly conduct the same under such regu- 
lations as may be prescribed by said board, and promptly make official report 
of each meeting held to the State superintendent. 

7. The State board of agriculture announces that the nature of the institute 
work permits the discussion of a wide range of subjects bearing upon agricul- 
ture, horticulture, animal husbandry, dairying, truck farming, gardening, the 
home, the school, the highway, rural improvement, relation of town and couii- 
try, and the development of the agricultural resources of the locality; but it 
also recognizes that the above-named subjects can be presented without in any 
way involving political, sectarian or factional or personal discussion. 

The board, therefore, rules that all subjects of a purely factional, political, 
personal, religious, sectarian, social or temperance nature should be excluded 
from the programs of the county farmers' meetings. All heated partisan or 
personal discussion at the meeting, upon any subject, is strictly prohibitetl. 
Speakers are instructed to urge, and presiding officers authorized and directed 
to secure the enforcement of above ruling. The discussion of public institu- 
tions, of farm and other organizations or of business enterprises, either for the 
purpose of advertisement, attack or defense, is not germane to the farmers' 
institute work and should, therefore, not be permitted. 

8. The State board of agriculture directs that every meeting to which a 
speaker is assigned at State expense, or for which county funds will be ex- 
pended, shall be open to the general public without restriction and without the 
payment of an admission fee. 

OREGOlSr. 

The act j)roviding for the holding of agricultural institutes and 
appropriating money for their maintenance is as follows : 

Section 1. The board of regents of the State agricultural college is hereby 
authorized to hold institutes for the instruction of citizens of this State in 
the various branches of agriculture. Such institutes shall be held at such 
times and at such places as said board may direct. The said board shall make 
such rules and regulations as it may deem proper for organizing and conducting 
such institutes, and shall employ an agent or agents to perform such work in 
connection therewith as they may deem best. The course of instruction at such 
institutes shall be so arranged as to present to those in attendance results of 
the most recent investigations in theoretical and practical agriculture. 

Sec. 2. For the purpose mentioned in the preceding section, the said board 
may use such sum as it may deem proper, not exceeding the sum of two 
thousand Ave hundred dollars in any one year, from the general fund, and' 
such amount is hereby annually appropriated for that purpose. 

Approved, , 1905. 

[Bull. 241] 



36 

PENNSYLVANIA. 

The farmers' institutes in Pennsylvania were established under 
tlie act of assembly of March 13, 1895, section 3 of which is as 
follows : 

Tliei-e shall be one deputy seci-etary, wlio shall be appointed by the governor 
for a term of four years, at a salary of three thousand dollars a year, who shall 
also be director of institutes. 

The same act, section 5, provides — 

That it shall be the duty of the superintendent of institutes to arrange them 
in such manner as to time and places of holding the same as to secure the 
greatest economy and efficiency of service, and to this end he shall, in each 
county where such institutes are to be held, confer and advise with the local 
member of the State board of agriculture, together with representatives duly 
appointed by each county agricultural, horticultural, and other like oi'ganiza- 
tions with reference to the appointment of speakers and other local arrange- 
ments. 

The institutes are supported by biennial appropriations by the 
legislature made to the department of agriculture. The appropria- 
tion for the biennium (1910-11) is $45,000 for institute purposes. 

PORTO RICO. 

There has been no legislation in Porto Rico respecting farmers' 
institutes. The special agent in charge of the agricultural experi- 
ment station reports that an agricultural society has been organized 
and that $1,000 was appropriated for institute purposes last year. 

RHODE ISLAND. 

Farmers' institutes in Rhode Island are conducted under authority 
granted by the general assembly in an act passed May 19, 1892, sec- 
tion 4 of which is as follows : 

The board shall hold one agricultural institute in each county annually, 
either independently or in connection with any society or association, or other 
oi'ganization devoted to the same general objects, and may hold as many more 
as it shall deem expedient, and shall, as far as practicable, encourage State and 
local associations and societies in the interests of agriculture. 

The arranging for the holding of institutes is committed by the 
State board of agricuHnre to its secrotarv. and the ex]ienses are paid 
by the board out of the annual appropriation of $20,000 appropriated 
for (he piiri)ose of carrying out the several provisions of the act by 
which the board is constituted. 

SOUTH CAROLINA. 

There is no specific law in this State for the holding of farmers' 
institutes. Institutes, however, are held under authority granted 
by the board of trustees of Clemson Agricultural College. 

[Bull. 241] 



37 

There is organized in. the college a division of extension work and 
farmers' institutes, with a principal and two assistants. The arrang- 
ing for the institutes is left entirely in the hands of the superintend- 
ent of this division. 

SOUTH DAKOTA. 
AN ACT To establish and maintain farmers' institutes in the State of South Dakota. 

Be it enacted by the legislature of the State of South Dakota: 

Section 1. That there is hereby created a State farmers' institute board, to 
be composed of the president of the agricultural college and the two members 
of the State board of regents who are at the time acting on the committee for 
the agricultural college. Tiie term of office as members of such institute board 
shall terminate with the expiration of their term of oflfice, as above mentioned. 

Sec. 2. The State farmers' institute board shall have authority to hold insti- 
tutes of not to exceed three days, at such times and places within the State as 
in their judgm.ent the needs of the people demand, which shall be free to the 
public, and shall consist of practical and instructive lectures, addresses, dis- 
cussions, illustrations, and demonstrations on the subject of agriculture in all 
its branches, and such other matters as are of interest to the farming people of 
the State. 

Sec. S. The necessary and actual expenses incurred in the arranging for and 
conduct of such institutes, including such machinery, models, ma])S, charts, and 
other apparatus as shall be needed for the proper presentation of the various 
subjects, shall be paid out of the appropriation hereinafter provided, in the 
manner provided by law for the payment of other State expenses : Provided, 
That there shall be no expenditure for hall rent, fuel, lights, local advertising, or 
local speakers, in connection with the holding of such institutes, except when 
deemed necessary by the institute board. 

Sec. 4. The said board shall have authority to engage such instructors as are 
needed for the proper presentation of the various subjects at such institutes, each 
of whom shall be a specialist on the subject he is to present, and to allow them a 
reasonable compensation for their services, together with their necessary and 
actual expenses while so employed. 

Sec. 5. The said board shall have authority to do such advertising and pub- 
lish such matters for free distribution as they may deem advisable for the best 
interests of the farmers of the State. 

Sec. 6. For the purpose of carrying out the provisions of the above act, there 
is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the State treasury not otherwise 
appropriated, the sum of five thousand dollars annually. 

Approved March 3, 1905. 

The above appropriation of $5,000 has been increased by act of 
legislature of 1910 to $13,000 per year for the two years 1910 and 
1911. 

AN ACT Empowering, authorizing and directing the payment of the expenses of hold- 
ing and maintaining farmers' institutes in counties where the same shall be held. 

Be it enacted hy the legislature of the State of South Dakota : 
1. That in all counties in the State of South Dakota wherein there is held 
what is commonly termed a farmers' institute, consisting of a program for 
education and instruction upon matters relating to agriculture, horticulture, and 
the breeding and raising of stock, which said institute shall be held at least 
annually, and where there shall be an organization of agriculturists and per- 
[Bull. 241] 



38 

sons interested in agriculture, horticulture, and stock breeding, and shall main- 
tain an organization for holding such educational institute, and have regular 
officers elected, consisting of a board of five directors, and from this board shall 
be selected a president, vice president, secretai'y, and treasurer ; then, and in 
such case, the county commissioners of the said county wherein such institute 
is held and such organization exists, shall pay out of the general fund of 
said county the necessary expenditures for maintaining such institute and ren- 
dering of such program of instructions as hereinafter provided. 

2, That whenever the conditions exist as provided in section one, and such 
institute is maintained and such organization exists, the county commissioners, 
upon having filed with them vouchers showing the expenditure which shall have 
been made in and about the holding of said institute, which shall be for the em- 
ploying of lecturers and necessary expenses connected with holding such institute, 
which said vouchers shall be subscribed by the president and secretary, and 
sworn to by either the president or secretary as being true and correct expendi- 
tures made therefor, the county commissioners shall then pay said expenditures 
in and for such county in a sum not exceeding two hundred dollars. 

o. Whereas, there is no law relating to the payment of expenses of farmers' 
institutes, an emergency is hereby declared to exist, and this act shall take 
effect and be in force on and after its passage and approval. 

Approved, aiarch 3, 1905. 

TENNESSEE. 

Tennessee has no special law governing farmers' institutes. The 
legislature makes an appropriation to the department of agriculture 
to be used by the commissioner for institute purposes. The commis- 
sioner selects the lecturers, arranges the programs, and decides the 
places and times for holding the institutes. 

TEXAS. 

Under an act of legislature establishing the Texas department of 
agriculture approved April 4, 1907, subdivision 3 of section 11, is 
the following provision for regulating farmers' institute work — 

He (the commissioner of agriculture) shall cause to be held farmers' insti- 
tutes at such times and places throughout the State as will best promote the 
advancement of agricultural knowledge and improvement of agricultural 
methods and practices. He shall publish such papers and addresses read or 
delivered at these institutes as ho shall deem to be of value to the farmers' 
interests. 

The thirty-first legislature appropriated $5,000 for the year ended 
August 31, 1010, and $r).000 for the year ending August 31, 1911 " for 
conducting institute Avork " by the department. 

UTAH. 

AN A("l' Tnividinf; for tlie lioldin^ nf farmers' and donioslit; science schools, in the 
counties of the Slate juul repealinj; s(H'tions •J()!).">, liOiX!. 12007, and 2008, compiled laws 
of Utah, 1907. 

Section 1. The agricultur.il college of T'tali is her(>by authorized and required 
to lioid meetings, institutes, one or two week scliools, exhi])itions, and demon- 
strations for tlie instruction of tlie citizens of Ulali in tlie various brandies of 
agriculture and domestic science. At least one meeting, institute, or school shall 
LBull. 1241] 



be held in each county each year, at such time and place and under such regu- 
lations as the agricultural college may direct. 

Sec. 2. The agricultural college may employ such agents as may be deemed 
necessary to assist the faculty in carrying out the provisions of this act; and 
the course of instruction at the meetings, institutes and Fchools herein provided 
for shall present the results of the most recent investigations in theoretical and 
practical agriculture and domestic science, especially as adapted to Utah con- 
ditions. 

Sec. 3. It shall be the duty of those conducting institutes in any county or 
precinct in this State, under the provisions of this act, to encourage and assist 
in the organization of local agricultural societies, and to encourage legitimate in- 
dustrial enterprises. 

Sec. 4. At the close of each year's institute work, the agricultural college shall 
cause to be published in book or pamphlet form, for free distribution to the 
farmers of the State, an annual report of the institute work, which report shall 
contain the leading papers and discussions presented at the institute meetings 
of the State. 

Sec. 5. For the purposes mentioned in this act, the agricultural college may 
use such sum as is deemed proper, not exceeding the sum of ten thousand dol- 
lars in any one year, and such amount is hereby annually appropriated for that 
purpose out of any moneys in the State treasury not otherwise appropriated. 

Sec. G. Sections 2095, 2096, 2097, and 2098, Compiled Laws of Utah, 1907, are 
hereby repealed. 

Approved, February 26, 1909. 

VERMONT. 
Number 11. 

AN ACT Abolishing the board of agriculture and creating a board of agriculture and 

forestry. 

It is lierehy enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 
Section 1. The State board of agriculture and forestry is hereby created, 
consisting of the governor, the director of the Vermont Agricultural Experiment 
Station, and two citizens of the State, known to be interested in the advance- 
ment of agriculture and forestry, who shall be appointed by the governor. 
The term of office of such appointees shall, except as herein otherwise pro- 
vided, be four years, beginning on the first day of December, nineteen hundred 
and eight. The first appointments under this act shall be made on or before 
January first, nineteen hundred and nine, and shall be one for the term of 
four years and one for the term of two years. Appointments to fill vacancies 
shall be for the unexpired term, and succeeding appointments for full terms 
shall be for four years. Each appointee shall continue in office until his suc- 
cessor is appointed. The members of the board shall receive no compensation 
for services, but shall be paid their actual necessary expenses incurred in the 
performance of the services required of them by law. 

Sec. 2. The board shall appoint, to hold office during its pleasure, a State 
forester, who shall be a professionally trained forester. His compensation shall 
be fixed by the board and shall not exceed two thousand five hundred dollars 
annually, and actual necessary expenses incurred in the performance of his 
official duties. He shall, under the general supervision of the board, have 
direction of all forest interests and all matters pertaining to forestry in the 
State. He shall be, ex officio. State fire warden. Pie shall, by complaint to the 
proper prosecuting officer, cause the prosecution of all persons violating any 
provisions of the penal laws of the State relating to forests and forest fires, 

[Bull. 241] 



40 

and shall cause suits to be instituted by the attorney general in behalf of the 
State against all persons trespassing upon or injuring any State forest property. 
He shall manage the State forest reserves. He shall collect data and make 
expert studies relative to State forest conditions, and conduct experimental 
investigations pertinent to forestry, which, subject to the approval of the board, 
may be made in cooperation with the Vermont Agricultural Experinient Station 
and with the United States Forest Service: Provided, however. That said ex- 
periment station hear its proportional share of the total expense involved in 
such studies and investigations. He shall be ex officio forester in charge of 
the nursery for forest seedlings. He shall make a full report of his work and 
the matters in his charge biennially to the general assembly. He may, so far 
as his other duties permit, prepare bulletins, deliver addresses, lectures, and 
demonstrations in forestry and personally advise owners of forest lands in this 
State relative to the management of the same: Provided, however. That all 
necessary expenses incident thereto are met by those requesting such services. 

Sec. 3. The governor is hereby authorized, upon recommendation of the board, 
to accept gifts of land to the State, the same to be held, protected, and adminis- 
tered as a State forest reserve. The board may in its discretion purchase lands 
in the name of the State to be held as State forest reserves. All proceeds from 
the sales of timber or other products from said lands shall be paid to the State 
treasurer, and be used at the discretion of the board in the furtherance of the 
forestry interests of the State. All lands held as State forest reserves shall be 
appraised and set to the State in the grand list of the town where located, 
and the State shall pay taxes thereon. At each quadrennial appraisal of real 
estate the State forester shall be notified by the listers of the appraisal of all 
lands in the State forest reserve. The State forester may appeal from such 
appraisal to the county court, which shall, in open court or by commission, hear 
the State forester and local representatives of the town, and by its order fix the 
appraisal of such lands, which appraisal shall be certified by the clerk of the 
county court to the towTi clerk and shall stand as the appraisal for the quad- 
rennial period. Such appeal shall be taken to the term of the county court of 
the county where the lands are situate next following the filing of the appraisal 
of the listers, and notice thereof shall be given to one of the selectmen of the 
town by the State forester at least twelve days before the sitting of the court. 

Sec. 4. The State forester may, at the discretion of the board, use such pro- 
portion of the sum hereinafter appropriated as seems reasonable for the further 
development of the nursery for forest seedlings, and for the purpose of sui»ply- 
ing such seedlings for the planting of State forest reserves and of private lands, 
as provided in section three hundred and sixty-five of the public statutes. 

Sec. 5. All the authority and duties now devolving upon the forestry com- 
missioner shall hereafter devolve upon and be exercised by the State forester, 
and the words " State forester " are hereby substituted for the words '* forestiy 
connnissioner " or " commissioner " wherever they appear in chapter twenty- 
four of the public statutes. The State forester may, in his disci'etion, exercise 
all the authority of the fire warden in any town or gore in the State, and may 
do each and every act which the fire warden for such town or gore might do 
under the provisions of chai>ter twenty-four of the public statutes, and every 
person and town shall be governed and bound by his acts as if the same were 
performed by the fire warden. But the foregoing provision shall not affect the 
antliority of tlie local fire warden. 

Skc. 7. Said couiniissioner shall promote agricultural interests and education 
throughout the Stiite by means of institutes, farmers' meetings, lectures, essays, 
bulletins, croit reiiorts, nature leaflets, and such other means as he may deem 

IBull. L'41] 



41 

advisable, and may employ special assistants, lecturers, essayists, and experts 
in conducting meetingis, in the preparation of bulletins and crop reports, and in 
the proper discharge of his duties. The educational work herein provided shall 
include, among other topics, forestry, tree planting, roads and road making 
Lectures and essays shall be given and institutes and meetings held at such 
places and times as to the commissioner shall seem advisable. The commis- 
sioner may, in his discretion and at the expense of the State, attend conven- 
tions, meetings, or institutes relating to agriculture held in other States or 
countries, the annual expenditure therefor not to exceed one hundred dollars. 

Sec. 8. Said commissioner may use such means as in his judgment are neces- 
sary to exterminate or prevent the introduction of the San Jose scale, the 
gipsy moth, the brown-tail moth, and any other threatening and unusual insect 
pest found to be injuring vegetable growth. The auditor of accounts shall, upon 
the requisition of said commissioner, approved by the governor, draw all orders 
necessary to carry out the provisions of this section. 

Sec. 9. Said commissioner sliall annually, on or before the first day of 
October, prepare a detailed report of his work, together with such suggestions 
in regard to the duties of his oflBce and the advancement of the agricultural 
interests of the State as may seem pertinent. He may include and publish in 
such annual reports such addresses, lectures, and essays delivered under the 
provisions of this act as he may deem advisable, and may reprint therein 
bulletins, crop reports, and leaflets. He may, in his discretion, include in such 
annual report an abstract of the pi'oceedings of such agricultural clubs or other 
organizations or institutions for the furtherance of agricultural education and 
interests as to him shall seem advisable. There shall be published with such 
annual report the report of the State forester, of the annual meetings of the 
State horticultural society, of the Vermont Dairymen's Association, of the 
Maple Sugar Makers' Association, and of the State fair commission. 

Sec. 10. Said commissioner may collect authentic statistical information, as 
full as practicable, relating to agriculture and agricultural products, farms and 
farm property, unoccupied farms and waste lands, and such information, under 
a separate head, may form a part of his annual report. He may also, with the 
approval of the governor, publish information in separate form, showing by 
description and illustration the resources and attractions of Vermont and the 
advantages the State offers to capitalists, tourists, summer visitors, and farm- 
ers, and shall distribute and advertise the same in such manner as in his judg- 
ment will be most effective in developing the resources and advertising the 
advantages of the State. 

******* 

Sec. 12. Sections 283, 330, 331, 332, 333, and 6165 of the public statutes and 
all acts and parts of acts inconsistent with this act are hereby repealed. 

Sec. 13. This act shall tal^e effect from its passage. 

Approved, December 18, 1908. 

Number 16. 

AN ACT To amend sections six and eleven of number eleven of the acts of 1908, en- 
titled "An act to abolish the board of agriculture and creating a board of agriculture 
and forestry." 

It is hereby enceted hy the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 
Section 1. Section six of number eleven of the acts of nineteen hundred and 
eight is hereby amended so as to read as follows : 

" Sec 6. The governor, with the advice and consent of the senate, shall ap- 
point a commissioner of agriculture, who shall hold office during the pleasure 
of the governor. Said board shall fix the salary of said commissioner, who 
[Bull. 241] 



42 

shall receive his necessary clerk hire and expenses incurred in the discharge 
of the duties of his office." 

Sec. 2. Section eleven, as amended, of said last-nanietl act, is hereby amended 
so as to read as follows: 

" Sec. 11. The sum of ten thousand dollars is hereby appropriated to carry 
out the provisions of this act between December first, nineteen hundred and 
ten, and June thirtieth, nineteen hundred and eleven ; and thereafter for like 
purposes the sum of twenty thousand dollars is hereby anually appropriated. 
The said board shall apportion the aforesaid appropriations between agri- 
culture and forestry as in its judgment shall best subserve the interest of the 
State." 

Sec 3. This act shall take effect December first, nineteen hundred and ten. 

Approved November 11, 1910. 

VIRGINIA. 

Chapter 351. 

AN ACT To constitute a united agricultural board to coordinate the Virginia College of 
Agriculture and Polytechnic Institute and the Virginia Agriculture Experiment Sta- 
tion, the commissioner and State board of agriculture, and the State board of educa- 
tion, in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture for the better- 
ment of agricultural, experimental, and demonstration work, and generally to advance 
the agricultural interest of this State, and to authorize boards of supervisors to appro- 
priate county funds for experimental and demonstration work in their respective 
counties. 

Whereas experiments heretofore conducted have demonstrated that in order 
successfully to encourage the adoption of improved methods of agriculture in 
Virginia, applicable to every section, crop, and interest, it is necessary that 
experiment stations shall be located in the different agricultural districts of the 
State, which should ascertain by careful scientific experiments the best methods 
of crop rotation, fertilizing, culture, control of insect pests, and diseases, et 
cetera, of the crops most commonly grown, or which may be profitably grown 
in the respective districts, and that the facts so ascertained shall be carried by 
the teacher, institute lecturer, and demonstrator to the people ; and 

Whereas it is necessary to the fullest success of this plan that the said 
Virginia College of Agriculture and Polytechnic Institute, and the Virginia 
Agricultural Experiment Station, the commissioner and State board of agri- 
culture, and the State board of education should unite their agencies in har- 
monious and determined efforts to advance by the methods above set forth, and 
in every other legitimate and practical way, the great agricultural interests of 
the State; and in order to coordinate harmoniously the eft'orts of these various 
State agencies in hearty cooperation with the United States Department of Agri- 
culture which lias been so successfully conducting its operations along these 
lines in Virginia : Therefore, 

1. Be it enacted hy the General Assembly of Virginia, That a board to be 
known as the united agricultural board be, and the same is hereby, established, 
to be composed of the governor; the State superintendent of public instruction, 
representing the State board of education; the commissioner of agriculture; 
and two members of the State board of agriculture, to be selected by that 
board; the jtresident of the A'irginia College of Agriculture and Polytechnic 
institute; the director of the Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station; and 
one member of the board of visitors of those institutions, to be selected by the 
said board; the supervisor of the district experiment stations; the general 
director of demonstration work of the United States Department of Agricul- 
ture; and the Virginia director of demonstration work of the United States 

I Run. 2411 



43 

Department of Agriculture. The members of said board shall hold office during 
the term of incumbency of the several offices which render them ex officio 
members of this board, except that the State board of agriculture and the 
board of visitors of the Virginia College of Agriculture and Polytechnic Insti- 
tute and Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station shall have iwwer to elect a 
successor to its members of the board for two-year periods, beginning March 
first, nineteen hundred and ten, or in the interim whenever its member of the 
board is incapacitated from serving on said board by death, resignation, or 
otherwise. It is further provided, also, that the officials of the United States 
Department of Agriculture, herein designated as members of the board, shall 
continue in office so long as that department cooperates in the work for which 
the united agricultural board is established. 

The officers of the board shall be the governor as chairman, and a secretary, 
to be elected by the board. 

2. The members of the united agricultural board shall not be entitled to 
any compensation, but the Virginia members shall be reimbursed for their 
actual and necessary traveling expenses and hotel bills while engaged in the 
discharge of their duties, to be paid out of the funds hereinafter mentioned, 
allptted respectively to the State agencies entitled to membership on the board. 

3. The united agricultural board shall, under such rules and regulations 
as it may prescribe, assign to the Virginia College of Agriculture and Poly- 
technic Institute the adult demonstration work and movable schools and other 
like agencies when established ; to the Virginia Agricultural Experiment Sta- 
tion, under like rules and regulations, the establishment and direction of the 
local or district experiment stations; to the State board of education, under 
like rules and regulations, the experimental and demonstration work in connec- 
tion with the public schools of the State; and to the commissioner and State 
board of agriculture, under like rules and regulations, the direction and 
manageinent of the farmers' institutes to be held in the different sections of 
this State; and the said united agricultural board may adopt such other methods 
and agencies, not herein specifically enumerated, as shall teiad to further the 
interests of agriculture, and assign to the various agencies i^epresented on 
the united board such duties as may seem best. 

4. For the purpose of carrying this bill into effect, in addition to the money 
allotted by the United States Department of Agriculture and the general 
education board, acting through the United States general director of demon- 
stration work, and from other sources, the State board of education is hereby 
directed to appropriate and set apart out of the common school fund the sum of 
five thousand dollars annually ; the sum of five thousand dollars shall be paid 
annually to the commissioner of agriculture ; the sum of five thousand dollars 
shall be paid annually to the Virginia College of Agriculture and Polytechnic 
Institute ; the sum of five thousand dollars shall be paid annually to the Vir- 
ginia Agricultural Experiment Station, out of any fund in the treasury of the 
State not otherwise appropriated ; said several sums of money to be paid by 
warrants authorized by the united agricultural board, signed by its secretary 
and countersigned by the chairman ; provided, that all moneys appropriated 
under this act shall be used for the purposes of this act. But nothing in this 
act shall apply to any funds except those mentioned in this act. And the 
moneys allotted to the commissioner of agriculture shall be used for farmers' 
institutes ; the moneys allotted to the Virginia College of Agriculture and 
Polytechnic Institute shall be used for adult demonstration work, movable 
schools, et cetera ; and the money allotted to the Virginia Agriculiural Ex- 
periment Station shall be used for experimental work at the local or district 
experiment station, established or to be established, and for no other pur- 

[Bull. 241] 



44 

pose; and the money appropriated by the State board of education shall be 
used for experiments and demonstration in connection with the schools of the 
State. An itemized statement, with all vouchers, shall be reported to the 
governor, and included in his annual report. 

5. If it shall appear to the board that any of the work required by this 
act, or which shall be prescribed by the board, is not being faithfully and 
efficiently performed by the agency to which it is assigned, the board shall 
at once inquire into the matter and has the power to take action assigning 
said work to some other agency, or in any other way that may seem best for 
the faithful and efficient i^erformance of said work. The moneys provided and 
appropriated under this act shall not be available prior to the twenty-eighth 
day of February, nineteen hundred and eleven. 

6. The board may determine its own by-laws and rules of procedure, except 
that a meeting may be called at any time by the chairman on ten days' notice, 
and the secretary shall issue calls for a meeting of the members of the board, 
giving ten days' notice, upon request in writing of not less than five members, 
and it shall require a majority vote of the entire membership to pass any 
question or resolution coming before it. In case of a tie vote the governor 
shall be entitled to cast an additional deciding vote. 

7. The boards of supervisors of the several counties of the State are hereby 
authorized and empowered to appropriate out of county funds for experimental 
and demonstration work in their respective counties such sums as the said 
boards shall deem proper, not to exceed twenty dollars for each one thousand 
inhabitants. 

8. But nothing in this act shall apply to the Virginia Truck Experiment 
Station. 

Approved, March 17, 1910. 

WASHINGTON. 

Section 192 of the session law of 1897 of the State of Washington, 
in defining the objects and purposes of the Washington Agricultural 
College and School of Science, declares that " one of the objects of 
said college shall be to hold fanners' institutes at such times and 
places and under such regulations as the board of regents may 
determine." 

The Legislature of the State of Washington in 1909 appropriated 
$17,500 to the State college of Washington for two years ending 
June 30, 1911, for extension work in agriculture. 

WEST VIRGINIA. 

The law under which farmers" institutes are held in West Virginia 
is that which established the State board of agi'iculture and pre- 
scribes its duties. The parts of the act relating to farmers' institutes 
are sections 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, which are as follows: 

Sec. 5. It shall be the duty of said board to look after and devise means of 
advancing the agricultural interests of the State: to promote and encourage 
as far as practicable the holding of farmers' institutes, the organization of 
agricultural and horticultural societies and other associations in the interest 
of agriculture in the several counties of the State. 

It shall have charge of the preparation of manuscript, the printing, publishing. 
and distribution, by mail and otherwise, of such documents and reading matter 

I null. 1241] 



45 

as they may deem best for the agricultural interests of the State. And said 
board shall include in its publication the methods of farming in use, the variety 
of stock and crops grown, the special capacities and aptitude of the soils to the 
various products of the latitude and climate, the needs of the farmers, and such 
other matters as w^ill convey a proper idea of the agricultural resources of the 
State to practical men. They shall have authority to request of any State 
official, or any official in any county, city, or town, any and all statistical and 
other information the board may desire. It is hereby made the duty of all 
State and county officers to assist in every way possible, and cooperate with the 
board, upon their request, to the end that the welfare and interest of agriculture 
may be promoted. It shall hold farmers' institutes for the instruction of the 
farmers of the State in the various branches of agriculture. 

Such institutes shall be held at such times and places, in each year, as said 
board may direct. The said board shall make such orders and regulations as 
it may deem proper for organizing and conducting such institutes, and may 
employ an agent or agents to perform such work in connection therewith as they 
may deem best. 

The course of instruction of such institutes shall be so arranged as to present 
to those in attendance the results of the most recent investigations in theoretical 
and practical farming. 

Sec. 6. It shall be the duty of the secretary to attend all meetings of the 
board, keep a careful record of all their proceedings, in proper books, provided 
by the board, and keep on file all papers relating to the office. 

To issue, under direction of the board, a monthly, a bimonthly, or quarterly 
publication, containing crop reports, agricultural statistics, and such other 
matter as the board may determine. He shall, before the assembling of each 
regular session of the legislature, compile a report giving a general review of 
agriculture, horticulture, and industrial resources of the State, with brief notices 
of each county, and the character of the public roads in the several counties, 
and how and by whom operated and kept in repair ; the character of labor gen- 
erally employed in the cultivation of the soil, and the prices paid therefor, and 
a report of the various institutes held during each year, and such other informa- 
tion as he is required to gather ; and he shall have a sufficient number printed 
for the use of the legislature and for general distribution, and perform such 
other duties as the board may prescribe. 

Sec. 7. The board shall report all its proceedings biennially to the governor, 
showing in detail the manner of its execution of the provisions of this act, which, 
together with the publication and report named in section six, and such inci- 
dental printing as may be necessary shall be printed by the public printer and 
paid for same as other public printing. 

Sec. 8. The secretary shall have a permanent office at the capitol, under the 
control and supervision of the board, which shall be supplied and maintained at 
the expense of the State. 

Sec. 9. A sum not exceeding three thousand dollars is hereby annually appro- 
priated out of any funds in the treasury not otherwise appropriated for the 
support and maintenance of the board, including per diem of members, salary 
of secretary, necessary expenses of the board and secretary while attending 
meetings, and all other incidental expenses connected with and growing out 
of this department of the State government, which shall be paid on the order 
of the board, signed by the president and secretary. 

"^^Hiile the law specifies that $3,000 be appropriated for the de- 
partment, the appropriation bill which is passed at each regular ses- 
sion of the legislature provides the funds for the work of the board 

[Bull. 241] 



46 

and takes precedence over all former bills. The annual appropriation 
at present is $15,000, including the salaries, of which from $8,000 to 
$10,000 is set aside for institute work each year. 

WISCONSIN. 

Wisconsin Farmers' Institute Law. Chapter 318, Laws of 1907. 
AN ACT To amend section 1494b of the statutes of 1898, relating to farmers' institutes. 

The people of the State of Wisconsin, represented in senate arid assemhhj, do 
enact as foUoics: 

Section 1. Section 1494b, statutes of eighteen hundred and ninety-eight, is 
amended as follows : 

Section 1494b. The board of regents of the State university * * * shall 
hold at such time and places as they * * * may determine institutes for the 
instruction of the citizens of this State in the various branches of agriculture ; 
the instruction given thereat shall be such as to present the results of the most 
recent investigations and experiments in theoretical and practical agriculture. 
They may make such rules and regulations as may be deemed proper for organ- 
izing and conducting such institutes and may employ an agent or agents to per- 
form such work in connection therewith as they may direct. There shall not 
be used in any one year more than * * * twenty thousand dollars in pay- 
ing the expense of, and such as are incident to, such institutes, which sum shall 
be payable from the general fund. 

Sec. 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage 
and publication. 

Approved, June 31, 1907. 

WYOMING. 

Chapter 77. House Bill No. 113, Farmers' Institutes. 

AN ACT Autliorlzing the board of county commissioners of the several counties in the 
State to appropriate one hundred dollars per annum to defray the expense of holding 
farmers' institutes, under the supervision and with the cooperation of the L'niversity 
of Wyoming. 

Be it enacted hy the Legislature of the State of Wyoming: 

Section 1. That the board of county commissioners of any county in Wyo- 
ming is hereby authorized, when they deem the same for the best interests of 
their county, to defray the local expense of holding a farmers' institute, under 
the supervision and with the cooperation of the University of Wyoming. 

Sec 2. No money shall be paid out of such appropriation for the services of 
any officers or local committees, in connection with any farmers" institute, or 
to any person or persons under pay l)y the University of Wyoming. 

Sec. 3. Before any farmers' institute can take advantage of this ai)propria- 
tiou, it shall be duly organized with a president, a secretary-treasurer, an execu- 
tive board, consisting of not less than three members, and a signed membership 
of not less than thirty actual farmers ; and no money shall be paid for the ex- 
pense of any institute not held in cooperation with the said University of 
Wyoming. 

Sec. 4. The money paid out under this act shall be mion warrants of the 
county authorizing the pnyment : such warrants to bo drawn in favor of tlie 
treasurer of the institute, and upon a certificate of such local exi)ense, which 
may include such expense as hall rent, advertising, hotel i)ills of speakei'S, and 
the expense of procuring speakers from a distance, who are not on the regular 

[Bull. 241] 



47 

university institute staff ; and such certificate to be signed and sworn to by said 
treasurer in tlie ordinary form of accounts against counties. 

Sec. 5. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage. 

Approved, February 20, 1907. 

FEDERAL LEGISLATION. 

Direct Federal aid to farmers' institutes began with the act making- 
appropriations for the Department of Agriculture for the fiscal year 
ended June 30, 1904, which provided " that five thousand dollars [of 
the sum appropriated for the Office of Experiment Stations] shall 
be used by the Secretary of Agriculture to investigate and report 
upon the organization and progress of farmers' institutes in the sev- 
eral States and Territories and upon similar organizations in foreign 
countries, with special suggestions of plans and methods for making 
such organizations more effective for the dissemination of the results 
of. the work of the Department of Agriculture and the agricultural 
experiment stations and of improved methods of agi'icultural prac- 
tice." Similar provisions have been continued in subsequent appro- 
priation acts. 

The appropriation act for the Department of Agriculture for the 
fiscal year ending June 30, 1912, contains the following clause pro- 
viding for aid to farmers' institutes and agricultural schools : 

To enable the Secretary of Agriculture to investigate and report upon the 
organization and progress of farmers' institutes and agricultural schools in 
the several States and Territories, and upon similar organizations in foreign 
countries, with si)ecial suggestions of plans and methods for making such 
organizations more effective for the dissemination of the results of the work 
of the Department of Agriculture and the agricultural experiment stations, and 
of improved methods of agricultural practice * * * $10,000. 
[Bull. 241] 

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